IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


Ao    112.0 


12.2 


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1-25  III  1.4      1.6 

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6"     

— ► 

Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


•"I 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WEBSTIR.N.Y.  MSIO 

(716)872-4503 


I 


! 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  histori^ues 


^ 


■^-f 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notes  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha 
tot 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculie 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographlques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~T|    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  nndommag6es 


n    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^as  et/ou  pellicul6es 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ddtach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Saule  Edition  disponible 


r~p{  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~1  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

n~|  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
pos 
of 
filni 


Orii 
bofl 
tha 
sioi 
oth 
firs 
sioi 
ori 


The 
aha 

whi 

Ma 
diff 
ant 
bee 
rigt 
req 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  i  la 
g4n*rosit4  de: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping]  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  it*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplalres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmis  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplalres 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciicht,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

& 

6 

?■■■ 


t^^  ^ 


'':m 


'.k 


J 


AMEIRICA^N 


iOtJNBABY  QUESTION. 


Thw  m.i»^  ♦!..      fc    'ly  *«  *e  last  stone 
linShlS  !fe  5f f  •    The  rwt  that  there  were  m 

Meet  sew  ouKtev  t«t  leolc  ij|p  anf  wonder." 

JBkn  Jonson. 


iilid.ifii. 


'*<. 


iiJUiiliieAH  ciflzEii; 


■'iii»ii«i»i».<<> 


TODirrBD  won  tm  AttTOMi,  BY  m  si-cmia.  ron 

1840. 


•!^; 


s'irsi 


No.  1. 


THE   AMERICAN 

BOUNDARY     QUESTION. 


^^The  whole  boundless  Continent  is  ours^ 

111       ,     ■ — ,.jfc  I      ■ -       ,...,,..      ■■,  ■ ,— ._. 

Tre  American  boundary  question  has  been,  is,  and  will  be  of 
ituch  importance  !o  the  American  people,  that  a  few  observations 
upon  it;  collected  from  reading  some  old  books  upon  the  subject, 
may  be  interesting  to  the  future  statesmen  and  inhabitants  of 
America.  For  their  benefit,  I  will  make  some  extracts  from  the 
histories  which  I  have  read,  and  add  some  comments  of  my  own, 
which  mdy  be  received  for  such  value  as  they  deserve.  I  say 
for  the  benefit  of  future  generations,  because  I  suppose  the  present 
inhabitants  have  already  formed  their  opinion  upon  the  siibject 
from  such  lights  as  they  possess ;  neither  do  I  know  that  I  can  add 
ony  thing  to  their  knowledge;  but  I  can  place  the  documents  in 
a  collective  view,  that  they  may  be  easily  understood. 

The  first  European  boundary  of  America  may  be  called  a 
bull) — for  a  grant  was  made  of  the  whole  of  America,  before  it 
Was  known  that  America  existed. 

About  the  year  1470,  the  pope  of  Rome,  by  a  bull  in  favor  of 
John  II.  King  of  Portugal,  granted  to  the  crown  of  Portugal  all 
the  lands  in  the  Atlantic  ocean,  between  the  west  coast  of  Africa 
and  the  east  coast  of  China.  This  grant  was  acquiesced  in  by 
the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  und  confirmed  by  treaty  by  some  of 
them. 

Some  twenty  years  afier  this  grant,  a  new  era  in  the  history  of 
the  world  was  brought  about  by  one  of  the  common  people. 
Aivtivs  Erat  Colvmhi. 

A  sailor — a  son  of  a  mechanic — a  citizen  of  a  republic,  discov- 
ered to  the  inhabitants  of  Europe  another  continent,  by  them  de- 
nominated the  ne«r  world.  Then  commenced  the  stiuggle  of 
the  Kings  of  Europe  for  the  sovereignty  of  this  new  world, 
which  has  continued  from  that  time  until  now,  and  is  not  ended 
yet.  The  Pope  of  Ronoej  in  the  plentitude  of  his  powers,  made 
a  grant  of  the  whole  of  this  coaiiaent  to  the  King  of  Spain. 


!» 


4  Ameriettn  Boundary  Queition. 

This  grant  Was  made  in  1493,  and  gfives  the  first  legal  tide  at 
.America  to  one  of  the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  so  fur  ns  the  other 
:soverei(i;n8  are  concerned,  because  the  Pope  was  at  that  lime  ac" 
knowledi^ed  head  of  the  church,  and  ail  Christendom  paid  respect 
to  his  decrees.  But  this  grant  to  a  King  only  operated  against 
Kings.  It  could  not  deprive  the  people  of  Europe  of  their  right 
to  expatriate  themselves  and  purchase  of  the  newly  discovered 
inhabitants,  such  parts  of  the  newly  discovered  country  as  they 
chose  to  plant  and  settle.  I  wish  you  to  bear  in  mind  the  difference 
between  the  rights  of  Kings  and  the  rights  of  the  people. 

In  1497,  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  King  of  England  by  conquest, 
in  order  to  fix  himself  and  family  more  firmly  on  the  British 
throne,  formed  a  treaty  with  the  King  of  Spoin,  confirming  to  the 
latter  the  entire  and  absolute  sovereignty  of  all  America,  and 
formd  a  family  alliance  by  the  marriage  of  his  son  Arthur  with 
Catharine  of  Aragoii,  the  Spanish  King's  daughter, 

The  first  disturbance  of  the  American  boundary  question,  thnff 
settled,  was  by  Portugal,  who  contended  for  her  rights  by  the 
previous  grant  of  1470,  and  the  Pope  wos  obliged  to  remove  the 
meridiunal  line  between  Spain  and  Portugal,  giving  Brazil  to  the 
latter  and  the  Phillpine  Isles  to  the  former. 

A  hundred  years  passed  away  without  any  further  disturbance 
of  the  boundary  question.  In  the  meantime  the  various  nations 
of  Europe  traded  to  the  new  world,  and  made  more  perfect  dis-> 
coveries  of  the  continent. 

The  Portuguese  sailed  N.  W.  and  discovered  the  coast  which 
they  named  Labrador,  signifying  in  their  language  a  laborer, 
.))robably  supposing  from  its  rough  and  barren  appearance  that  it 
would  require  much  labor  to  live  there. 

The  French  sailed  up  a  great  bay  and  river,  which  they  called 
the  St.  Lawrence.  They  also  coasted  the  various  bays  and  rivers 
from  thence  to  the  Kenebec, — made  treaties  with  the  natives, 
and  called  the  country  New  France,  and  attempted  some  small 
settlements.  Others  of  this  nation  coasted  the  Atlantic  shore  of 
th«  coast  of  Florida— discovered  the  river  May,  afterwards  called 
Mayo  by  the  Spaniards,  and  now  called  the  St.  John's.  They 
formed  a  settlement  near  the  30th  degree  of  latitude,  and  called 
the  country  Carolina,  after  Charles  the  ninth  of  France. 

The  Dutch  discovered  the  bay  and  coast  of  New  York  and 
the  North  River,  which  they  named  the  Hudsoo^and  called  tho 
country  New  Aiusterdam« 


I 


Amtriean  Boundarp  Quntion.  9 

The  Swedes  discovered  and  settled  the  boy  and  const  of  the 
Delaware. 

The  Enzlish  sailed  alon<af  the  coast  of  Hutteras  nnd  enterrd 
Albemarle  Sound,  and  settled  on  the  coast  und  nunitd  the  conntiy 
Win^finia,  after  the  nnme  of  the  Indian  Kin^f  of  the  conntiy. 
They  also  discovered  the  Massachnselts  Buy  und  coust  udjuceni, 
and  named  the  conntry  New  ISn^lnnd. 

But  no  pretention  to  the  sovereignty  of  any  of  these  conntries 
was  made  by  any  of  the  Kings  of  Europe.  For  njore  ihun  n 
hundred  years  after  the  discovery  by  Colutnluis,  the  right  was 
admitted  that  they  belonged  to  the  King  of  Spain.  Henry  VU. 
wus  King  of  England  nl  the  time  of  the  discovery— he  was  en- 
gaged in  making  a  treaty  with  Spain,  asl  hnve  before  related,  for 
ihe  marriage  of  his  son  to  the  Spanitsh  King's  dau;;liter ;  mid  so 
jealous  were  the  Spaniards,  that  to  have  clainicd  any  paii  of 
America  would  have  broken  off  the  treaty.  He  was  obliged  to 
discountenance  the  expedition  of  Sitbasiiuii  Cabot,  and  allow  that 
navigator  to  be  employed  by  Spain.  Henry  Vlll.  reign«d  about 
half  a  century,  and  |vas  employed  part  of  the  lime  in  gelling  rid 
of  the  wife  his  father  had  taken  such  pains  to  procure  lor  liiin. 
He  had  too  much  trouble  at  home,'  to  think  of  claiming  any  of 
the  possessions  of  the  powerful  monarch  of  Spain. 

Edward  VI.  was  a  minor  and  died  before  his  mnjorily.  His 
sister  Mary,  who  succeeded  him,  married  the  King  of  Spain,  and 
renewed  the  treaties  for  the  exclusive  right  of  Spain  to  ihe  Amer- 
icas. The  Eniflish  merchants,  however,  had  privilege  dnring 
this  union  of  the  two  kinj^doms  to  travel  and  trade  in  any  part 
of  the  Spanish  dominions.  It  vi.'s  in  this  reign  that  itic  English 
became  acquainted  with  America,  ond  had  commenced  carrying 
on  an  extensive  commerce  through  nil  its  parts.  1  find  accounts 
of  them  in  North  ond  Smith  America— in  Mexico— in  the  vari- 
ous West  Indies;  establishing  their  ware  houses  and  agencies 
throughout  these  vast  dominions.  But  this  business  was  of  short 
duration.  Mary  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  her  protestant  ^i^ler 
Elizabeth  ;  the  connecti(»n  between  the  two  kingdoms  was  dissolv- 
ed, and  the  English  were  prohibited  from  entering  the  Spanish  do- 
minions, and  much  suffering  ensued.  Yet  this  Q,iieen,  during 
her  long  reign,  did  not  claim  any  part  of  America,  and  when  she 
granted  a  charier  to  Waller  Ralei«h,  it  was  a  power  lo  go  into 
foreign  countries,  lo  beseigo  castles  and  subdue  nations,  and  to 
take  possessioa  of  such  us  Ue  could  conquer.    B»  had  uo  liduu 


• 


Amtrican  Boundary  Qu$itioit. 


if 


of  territory  aisijccned  liim,  and  he  might  have  gone  to  China  with 
the  same  cnmmixfiiou  as  well  as  to  Aiiierica. 

As  early  us  1534,  a  French  squadron  sailed  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence and  spent  most  of  tiie  summer  in  exploring  those  cold 
regions— loo  cold  for  winter  qnnrters,  which  delcrinined  the  nooi- 
mm  Ijr  to  sail  fiirih.ir  south,  where  he  entered  a  large  bay  which 
ho  ciillt'd  the  buy  of  France;  now  known  os  the  bay  of  Fundy< 
Looicin*;  for  comuiodioiis  wuilnr  quarters,  he  entered  a  large  nav- 
i;;iil)lu  river,  and  conununcod  a  trade  with  the  natives,  for  such  ar-> 
ticlos  of  food  as  they  rould  supply.  Having  refreshed  his  crew 
nnd  supplied  their  immediate  wants,  he  landed  some  of  his  men 
and  erectt^d  a  hij^h  cross  upon  the  shore,  and  formally  took  pos- 
sussiitn  of  tim  country  after  the  catholic  manner,  in  the  name  of 
the  kiuit  of  France.  During  the  ceremony  the  notives  gathered 
ronntJ  the  spot,  wondering  at  what  they  beheld.  Their  chiefs, 
surniisin?  the  oltject  of  the  stranger's  visit,  expressed  to  them  by 
si<rns  that  the  country  belonged  to  his  people,  and  that  foreigners 
had  no  ri<>flit  to  any  part  of  his  territory,  and  disputed  the  boun- 
dary in  his  rude  way  at  the  outset. 

From  (he  descriptions  given  in  the  early  histories,  it  appears 
that  this  river  is  the  same  now  called  the  St.  John's,  although  it 
was  called  in  the  treaties  the  St.  Croix,  or  holy  cross.  By  the 
treaty  of  1628  between  England  and  France,  this  river  was  fixed 
as  the  dividing  line  between  New  England  ond  Nova  Scotia  or 
Acadin,  and  from  the  most  northern  brunch  of  the  river  a  line  run 
due  north  to  the  great  river  of  Cnnoda. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  America,  French  fishermen  and 
others  commenced  sailing  along  the  Atlantic  shore  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  fishing  banks;  and  in  1562  they  made  their  settlement  in 
Carolina  or  Florida.  In  1582  the  English  commenced  settling 
near  Cape  Hatteras. 

Now  I  wish  you  particularly  to  bear  in  mind,  that  the  Spanish 
Government  claimed  the  jurisdiction  over  North  nnd  South  Amer- 
ica, piid  Filngland  and  France  accorded  it  to  her  by  the  most  sol* 
erim  treatieis,  and  both  the  nations  disclaimed  any  right  to  jurisdic- 
tion over  any  part  of  America. 

In  lo98.  the  French  King  gave  a  commission  to  De  la  Roche,  to 
conquer  (.'anada  and  other  countries  not  possessed  by  any  Chris* 
tian  prince.  Here  was  nn  outrage  of  the  most  violent  kind  against 
peaceable  and  utioffending  narions.  The  native  Canadians  had 
always  been  kind  and  hospitable  to  the  French  traders  and  fish* 


'^1 


AmtriemH  Boundary  Qmm/^wi.  7 

•rmtti,  who  had  ffaited  them  almost  every  year  from  the  year 
1634— being  a  period  of  A4  years,  and  more  than  two  hundred 
vessels  had  been  employed  by  Prance  in  the  commerce  with  Can- 
ada. I  find  so  many  good  offices  done  to  the  French,  by  these 
native  sons  of  the  forest,  that  I  should  be  astonished  nt  nn  oider 
given  by  a  great  nation  to  conquer  such  a  people,  hnd  ]  not  read 
so  many  accounts  of  the  violence  of  kings  against  the  rights  of 
the  people. 

It  appears  that  this  General  De  la  Roche  wa^  not  able  to  con- 
quer Canada,  for  I  find  the  native  Canadians  exercising  the  rights 
of  sovereignty  many  years  after. 

The  French  were  permitted  to  establish  two  trading  houses, —  , 
one  at  a  place  called  by  the  natives  Ke-beck,  (by  the  French  writ- 
ten  Quebec,)  and  pronounced  Ker-beck  ;  and  the  other  nl  the  Ca- 
nadian town  of  Hochelago,  and  called  by  the  French  Mont-reiil. 
Those  two  trading  establishments  were  fortified,  and  by  degrees 
assumed  the  power  to  overawe  the  neighboring  nations. 

I  have  now  arrived  at  the  year  1600,  and  commence  the  17th 
century,  and  the  American  boundary  question  remains  us  fixed  by 
the  Pope.  But  new  pretensions  and  contentions  ubout  it  are  soon 
to  arise,  and  you  will  read  of  wars  about  the  boundary  question 
for  the  next  two  hundred  years— when  the  people  of  America 
had  to  work  in  their  fields  with  their  muskets  by  their  side,  he- 
cause  the  Kings  of  Europe  contended  which  of  them  should  be 
despot  of  America. 

A  new  dynasty  was  just  seated  on  the  French  throne.  Henry 
Bourbon,  duke  of  Navarre,  a  protestant  prince,  became  the  next 
heir  by  the  death  of  Henry  IH.  of  Valois ;  and  be  assumed  the  title 
of  Henry  IV.  and  after  much  hard  fighting  obtained  the  throne. 
EliaiM;2ih  of  England  died  in  the  beginning  of  1603,  and  was 
succeeded  by  James  VI.  of  Scotland,  a  protestant.  These  two 
protestant  kings  paid  no  regard  to  the  treaty  mode  with  GothoUcs 
by  their  ancestors,  but  began  immediately  parcelling  out  Ameri- 
oa  to  their  retainers  and  adheranti  The  first  grant  or  royal  char- 
ter was  from  Henry  IV.  King  of  France,  given  in  1603  to  a  com- 
pany of  his  subjects,  to  have  and  to  hold,  enter  upon  and  possess 
all  that  tract  of  country  lying  and  being  on  the  American  contin- 
ent, situated  between  the  40th  and  46th  degrees  of  North  lotiiude, 
and  extending  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  great  South  Sen~ 
with  a  right  to  make  war  upon  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  utterly 
subdtie  them,  and  mak«  them  vassaU and  subjects  of  the  crown  of 


si 


)^t  •in%%  ft|» 


FniAct.    Thii  if  iht  Im 

I  wiiH  foit  I*  mm  t0  rvirei  apon  ||i^i|iMiMMii  10  ifc* 
istfilliiiir  bf  fiim^ 

jurMo  wlM>  hut.  t^i  &«r  Vftn  lMlbi«»  pp,i, 

Tho  Mn  y«av  MH>i,  JiiiiNt  (*|«fltii^  but 

iMnf  of  OnMt  irldiin,  ivoi  <nMit«nt  with  llii  lai 

hnd^ittjr  homi  nuido  to  hit  Kui|ir<tm,  tonstW 

pw»r>»«  In  M0t\m  h^roitpflli^     iiw^Wlngly  Iw  | 

piteHniid  imrcfll  o/lttii<!  lyiiig  bttMreeri  ih«  MtnintI 

W'lrth  liitituU{t,aDd  eitiindfii|  (Vom  tci  t«  •••.    T^t  iMor  IPS^- 

dlimt  hid  now  thrat  BilJNipean  roMt^rt,  ^llhool  kbdirioteiht  U- 

lefnl  )jil0,  bfl^iiuse  thegmniora  iievar  MMiglid  any  ri«ht  ia  tii* 

ilrl ftiMiUf  kirriioVy.    Bni  yon  wfil tXifiimf  Ia)»M|, dMttM* 

leniiou  10  the  Frapali  igrrimt,  «od  ffave  paruMtiioii  fo^^^  to 
tht  Ariiarieftn  boundary  quaaMon,  waa  in  1013.    OipMvii; c^ 

ai^Ued  in  a  coM.^>rfB,  ^tgigli.bacttliafiitar  wore  oi^idJtflS 
w.^.n  the Jlyij5J|^.oiad  byiha  ilbgof  dfoat  Lain.  i 

Thara  bad  ba«^  ^  pipf iova  bonfcr  war  beWri^Ri  tfetS'ttiJP 
Carolmtan.  and  iba  Spoqiab,  in  156^  whan  tbiSiKS 
forco  t^^iigb  to  m««M»cfe  imd^^eg^  :^„  tha  Pr«^!SSo^  iSl 


i 


V 


\^ 


v.  ( 


11^ 


►r 


^  10  tilt 


indingit 


i^o.  2, 


"  •  \ 


4, 


.'  7 


:i,iV 


THE   AMERICAN 

BOUNDARY     QUESTION. 

''The  whole  hoitiul/ess  Continent  is  ow/W 

In  1030,  Kiiijr  Jamos  nuidc  a  fiiitlier  jfijiiit  of  Inud,  which  did 
not  bclony;  to  him.  IIo  separated  the  North  Cotupaiiy  from  the 
South  Company,  and  jjave  n  new  rharler  to  the  North  Company, 
nnd  extiiidod  their  hmit?;  north  to  latitude  4S,  and  calltd  ilie 
North  Company  "the  New  Hnp[Uind  Comjjany."  Th.ir  huiits 
extended  iVom  latitude  40  to  49,  making  8  dejrrces,  and  from  sea 
lo  sea.  At  the  same  lime  New  France  occi  ,  'ed  the  same  jjround. 
The  South  Company  retained  of  the  former  grant  from  34  to  40, 
(>  degrees  of  hitilude,  and  in  longitude  from  the  Atlantic  to  thp 
Pacili ',  and  was  called  Virginia. 

In  1(J2I  James  obtained  u  grant  froui  the  New  England  Com- 
pany for  one  of  his  favorites,  sir  William  Alexander,  of  the  North 
Enst  angle  of  their  territory,  which  the  grantee  called  Nova  Sco- 
tia, nnd  soon  after  sold  to  a  suhjecl  of  France.  This  grant  has 
been  the  occasion  of  numerous  wars,  and  cost  the  lives  of  many 
of  the  early  settlers,  both  French  and  English. 

Charles,  the  son  and  successor  of  King  James,. married  Heniif 
etta  Maria,  the  French  king's  sislei,  and  confirmed  the  grunt  of 
Nova  Scotia  to  the  crown  of  France.  In  these  marriages  between 
the  sovereigns  of  the  earth,  the  people  are  viewed  as  serfs,  nnd 
transferred  like  cattle  without  their  consent.  The  boundary  of 
this  grant  for  Nova  Scotia  commences  at  Cape  Sable  in  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean,  thence  continuing  N.  W.  and  northerly  along  the  coast 
to  tlie  bay  of  St.  Marys ;  thence  north  to  the  river  St.  Croix  ; 
thence  north  to  Canada  River;  thence  down  the  said  river  and 
bay,  and  along  the  shore  thereof,  to  Gaspe  Bay;  thence  S.  E.  to 
Cape  Briton  Islands  and  Cape  Briton;  thence  round  the  Atlantic 
shore  to  Cape  Sables  again,  the  place  of  beginning,— together 
with  all  seas  and  islands  within  six  leagues  of  the  western, 
northern  and  eastern  parts,  and  within  forty  leagues  to  thesouth- 
vvard  of  Cape  Briton  and  Cape  Sables,  ,.ji. -,.....  . ,,  . 


to 


American  Boundary  Question. 


I 


I 


T  have  before  told  you  thut  the  river  now  called  the  St.  Johns 
river  is  llie  river  formerly  called  the  St.  Croix; — from  this  des- 
cription of  the  boundary  of  Nova  Scotia  it  appears  evident, — be- 
cause the  line  runs  north  from  the  bay  of  St.  Marys  to  the  river 
St.  Croix,  and  if  the  present  river  St.  Croix  was  meant  the  line 
would  run  nearly  west. 

Capt.  Argal  destroyed  the  PVench  fort  at  St.  Croix  only  8  years 
before,  and  his  report  was  probably  sent  to  the  secretary's  otiice, 
together  with  all  the  maps  and  papers  captured  from  the  French; 
and  as  most  of  the  names  of  the  boundaries  are  French,  they 
were  probably  taken  from  the  French  mapf. 

In  16^8,  the  New  England  Company  made  a  grant  of  part  of 
their  territory  to  the  Republicans  of  England,  under  the  title  of 
the  Massachusetts  Company.  This  grant  extended  from  the  At- 
lantic to  the  Pacific  ocean,  between  the  parallels  of  the  42d  and 
44th  degrees  of  North  latitude. 

The  Plymouth  settlers  had  previously  a  grant  for  the  territory 
they  occupied,  and  some  years  afterwards  a  grant  for  a  trading  es- 
tablishment on  the  Kennebeck  river. 

In  1632,  the  New  England  Company  granted  the  remainder  of 
their  territory  south  of  Massachusetts  to  the  Connecticut  Compa- 
ny— extending  forty  leagues  in  a  straight  line  from  the  Massachu- 
setts boundary  at  the  head  of  Narragansett  Bay,  to  ihe  40th  par- 
allel of  latitude,  and  of  the  same  breadth,  frotn  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  ocean. 

The  New  England  Company  also  made  a  grant  of  a  small  ter- 
ritory, between  the  Merrimack  and  the  Piscataqua  rivers,  and  ex- 
tending sixty  miles  into  the  interior,  which  was  named  New 
Hampshire.  They  also  granted  another  tract,  between  the  Piscat- 
aqua and  Kennebeck  rivers,  and  extending  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty milea  into  the  interior,  which  was  named  Maine  by  the  Queen. 
Several  smaller  grants  appear  to  have  been  made ;  and  in  1635, 
the  New  England  Company  surrendered  their  charter  to  the  King 
and  dissolved. 

Maine  was  purchased  afterwards  by  the  Massachusetts  Compa- 
ny, and  New  Hampshire  was  supposed  to  be  within  the  Massachu- 
setts grant.     Over  both  this  latter  State  exercised  jurisdiction. 

Connecticut  and  New  Haven  Colonies  had  made  settlements 
under  separate  governments,  and  the  English  immigrants  had  now 
formed  four  governments,  which  united  themselves  into  a  federal 
union,  and  exercised  all  the  attributes  of  sovereignty,  nominally 


American  Boundary  Question. 


II 


t.  Johns 
this  des- 
nt, — be- 
he  river 
the  line 

r 8  years 

r's  office, 

French; 

ch,  they 

part  of 
title  of 
the  At- 
42d  and 

territory 
ading  es- 

ainder  of 
Compa- 
fassachu- 
10th  par- 
tic  to  the 

small  ter- 
,  and  ex- 
led  New 
le  Piscat- 
nd  twen- 
3  Queen, 
in  1635, 
the  King 

Compa- 
assachu- 
:lion. 
tlements 
had  now 
a  federal 
ominally 


dependent  on  the  crown  of  Enj^land,  but  really  independent. 
They  fonntd  treaties  with  the  Dutch  Colony,  with  the  French, 
and  with  the  various  Indian  nations.  They  made  war  and  con- 
cluded peace,  without  consulting  the  British  government.  They 
also  coined  money. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Charles  I.  made  any  grants  of  territo- 
ry in  the  new  world,  except  giving  a  charter  to  Lord  Cecil  for 
Maryland.  He  was  so  much  occupied  by  domestic  affairs,  that 
the  colonists  had  lime  to  strengthen  themselves  and  increase  in 
population  under  their  own  wise  laws,  witliout  being  harassed  by 
the  King  of  England.  But  when  Charles  II.  obtained  the  gov- 
ernment of  Great  Britain,  he  commenced  making  new  grants  in 
America,  without  reference  to  the  limits  of  the  grants  made  by 
his  grandfather. 

There  was  a  story  current  in  England  at  this  time,  that  Sebas- 
tian Cabot,  while  he  was  domicilitated  there,  had  sailed  along  this 
continent  su  far  south  that  Cuba  was  on  his  left  hand ;  allhougli 
it  does  not  appear  that  he  landed  any  where.  Under  this  vague 
title  of  right  by  discovery,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  claimed  the 
whole  of  North  America ;  and  King  Charles  the  second,  who  a 
few  years  before  had  to  beg  for  a  house  to  put  his  own  head  in, 
soon  after  his  recall  to  the  throne,  commenced  making  grants  of  a 
country  of  whose  geography  he  was  entirely  ignorant. 

The  French  had  made  a  settlement  in  Carolina,  «s  I  have  be- 
fore told  you,  a  hundred  years  previous  to  this  time,  but  wore  driv- 
en off  by  the  Spaniards,  who  afterwards  settled  a  cdony  and  fort 
at  St.  Augustine.,  to  protect  that  whole  line  of  coast.  St.  Angus- 
tine  is  in  latitude  29  degrees  48  minutes  30  seconds.  A  charter 
was  granted  for  this  country  to  a  company  of  English  Cavaliers 
by  the  British  King,  as  a  reward  for  their  services  in  assisting  his 
elevation  to  the  throne.  This  Company  were  made  Lords  pali- 
tine.  The  people  were  to  be  their  serfs,  without  any  right  to  the 
soil  they  tilled.  Such  were  the  notions  of  democratic  liberty  en- 
tertained by  this  aristocratic  King.  Here  was  a  double  injury  per- 
petrated, first  to  the  Spanish  King,  who  had  actual  possession  of 
the  territory  by  his  fort  at  Augustine  ;  and  next,  to  his  own  sub- 
jects, by  enticing  them  to  a  foreign  country  to  be  tyranized  over 
by  his  lords. 

The  limits  of  Carolina  were  extended  South  to  the  30th  degree 
of  North  latitude,  within  twelve  miles  of  the  fort  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, and  North  to  36  degrees  30  minutes,  thus  encroaching  upon 


m 
m 


.f' 


ff,' 


a 


American  Boundary  Question. 


Virginia  2\  (iR^mes  vviflinnt  (he  loiisf  pniticle  of  ri^ht— erecting 
acntiiiiy  piilaliiu;  ii[)i>ii  the  free  soil  of  Viryiniii. 

'^Phe  next  yiaiit  hy  King  (-harles  II.  deserves  yonr  pnrlicnlar  at- 
tentii)n.  It  \v;).s  the  f.nnnns  grant  to  his  hrniher,  then  Dnke  of 
York,  and  was  intended  to  convey  a  cunntry  called  hy  the  French 
Acadia,  and  by  the  English  Sagadahocic,  from  the  river  now  call- 
ed the  Penobscot. 

By  the  treaty  of  1623,  Nova  Scotia  had  been  confirmed  to  the 
French.  The  New  England  Company  had  made  no  grant  east 
of  the  I^ennebeck  river,  and  in  1635  snrreudered  their  Charter, 
so  that  at  this  time  French  Acadia  was  all  that  portion  of  country 
between  the  Atlantic  ocean  on  the  South  and  the  river  St.  Law- 
rence on  the  North,  the  K<'nnebec  and  the  Chaudiere  river  on  the 
West  and  Nova  Scotia  on  tlie  East. 

As  the  King  had  granted  the  territories  of  Spain  on  the  South, 
so  now  he  granted  the  territories  of  France  on  the  North  ;  but  he 
could  not  consistently  extend  his  grant  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
treaty  of  1628.  Accordincrly  he  makes  this  grant  extend  from 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  great  river  uf  (IJanada,  called  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  the  North  Eastern  boundary  was  limited  by  Nova 
Sjolia,  as  described  in  the  grant  to  Sir  William  Alexander  in  1621. 
As  I  have  before  shewn  you,  this  boundary  commences  at  the 
month  of  the  St.  John's  river,  (then  called  the  St.  Croix,)  and  ex-* 
tended  due  North  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  about  66  degrees  30 
mi  lUtes  west  longitude  from  London.  This  country  was  called 
the  Duke  of  York's  possessions,  but  notwithstanding  this  grant, 
the  Fretich  continued  to  occupy  and  govern  the  country,  and  raa-- 
ny  bloody  wars  ensued  between  the  French  and  English  and 
their  Indian  allies,  on  (he  border. 

The  remainder  of  this  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  is  more  re- 
markable, because  he  grants  very  large  territories  belonging  to 
others,  in  a  kind  of  postcript  or  addenda,  as  though  it  was  an  after 
thought.  The  document  continues  by  saying  "and  also"  and 
makes  asweepinsfgraiit  of  all  (he  Islands  along  the  Atlantic  coast 
to  Maiihailan  Island,  and  all  tlie  country  between  the  Connecticut 
river  and  the  Deleware,  extending  north  as  far  as  "  the  great  river 
of  Canada."     Mere  is  a  sweeping  grant  of  other  people's  posses* 


5  ions 


The  Dutch  were  in  actual  possession  of  the  city  of  Manhat- 
tan, now  called  New  York,  after  that  beastly  person,  the  Duke  of 
York.    Although  a  Duke  and  a  King,  he  wms  unworthy  the  name 


J 


^ 


American  Boundary  Question. 


13 


—erecting 

ticnlar  nt- 
1  Diilce  of 
lie  French 

now  call- 

ned  to  the 
grniit  east 
ir  Charter, 
)f  country 
r  St.  Law- 
yer on  the 

the  South, 

1 1)  ;  hut  he 

nits  of  the 

slend  from 

led  the  St. 

d  by  Nova 

er in  1621. 

nces  at  the 

ix,)  and  ex^ 

degrees  30 

was  called 

this  grant, 

ry,  and  ma* 

English  and 

is  more  re- 
ilonging  to 
vas  an  after 
1  also  "  and 
lantic  coast 
I^onnecticut 
great  river 
)le's  posses* 

of  Manhat- 
the  Duke  of 
lythe  name 


of  mati.  More  than  fifty  years  had  this  people  been  in  possession 
of  the  Hudson  river  and  country  adjacent,  and  yet  in  time  of  per- 
fect peace,  the  British  Kinar  sent  an  armed  force  and  dispossessed 
them!! 

Connecticut  was  in  possession  of  Lojig  Island,  and  Massachu* 
setts  in  possession  of  Nantucket,  and  the  Islands  there  about. — 
Besides,  this  obnoxious  grant  conflicted  with  other  grants  made 
by  the  same  government.  Virginia  and  New  England  cov- 
ered the  whole  ground.  New  England  had  granted  all  their 
right  between  the  40lh  and  4'lth  degrees,  to  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts,  and  these  two  latter  States  had  the  whole  British 
right  to  all  the  territory  between  these  latitudes. 

Pennsylvania  was  granted  by  James  II.  to  William  Penn.  It 
Was  part  of  Virginia  and  part  of  Connecticut,  and  the  King  had 
no  right  to  make  the  grant.  It  appears  to  be  the  only  government 
limited  to  the  Westward. 

Delaware  was  claimed  by  the  Duke  of  York,  and  sold  to  Wm. 
Penn,  although  it  was  on  the  West  side  of  the  river  Delaware, 
and  actually  settled  by  the  Swedes,  who  had  purchased  it  of  the 
Indians. 

New  Jersey  was  also  sold  by  the  Duke  of  York,  which  occa- 
sioned much  confusion  for  a  series  of  years  between  East  and 
West  Jersey. 

I  have  thus  hastily  run  through  the  various  English  grants  of 
North  America,  until  the  time  of  the  Revolution  of  1688,  when 
James  II.  was  expelled  from  the  throne,  and  the  Dutch  Prince 
William,  and  Mary  his  wife,  elected  King  and  Queen  of  England. 
Here  is  another  important  era  in  the  history  of  the  boundary 
question. 

The  French  King  maintained  tlie  interests  of  the  fallen  British 
monarch,  and  a  war  between  France  and  England  was  the  conse- 
quence. 

During  this  war,  Massachusetts,  assisted  by  the  United  Colo- 
nies, in  1690,  conquered  Nova  Scotia,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the 
border  war,  and  settled  the  North  Eastern  boundary.  I  recom- 
mend you  to  read  the  history  of  this  war — note  the  suflferings  of 
the  Massachusetts  soldiers — see  with  what  cheerfulness  they  en- 
dured a  winter  campaign,  under  the  hope  that  it  would  be  the  last 
in  that  section — that  the  conquest  of  Nova  Scotia  would  unite 
them  as  one  people,  and  end  the  border  strife. 

Two  years  after  this,  Massachusetts  obtained  from  the  new 


»•  > 


14 


American  Boundary  Question. 


;'v 


King  of  Enjrlnnd  a  new  Charter,  confirming:  its  ancient  limits, 
Qiid  addin;;  the  whole  connlry  which  had  been  granted  to  the 
Diikooi'  Yoric,  called  theSagadahock  country,  extending  from  the 
Atlantic  ocean  to  the  great  river  of  Canada,  and  the  newly  con- 
'V',  qiirtred  territory  of  Nova  Scotia.     The  new  charter  appointed 

twenty  eiiflit  Couiicellors— eighteen  from  Massachusetts  proper, 
four  iVoiu  Plymouth,  two  from  Maine,  two  from  Sagadahock,  and 
two  from  Nova  Scotia — thus  recognizing  the  right  of  all  these 
provinces  to  he  represented  in  the  Massachusetts   General  Court. 

Massachusetts  had  now  a  prospect  of  peace  throughout  all  her 
borders,  and  was  just  beginning  to  frame  those  salutary  laws 
which  are  calculated  for  the  safety  of  the  individual  and  the  per- 
niani;iicy  of  the  government,  when  a  new  and  unforeseen  difficul- 
ty arose.  In  1()U7,  the  governments  of  England  and  France 
made  a  treaty  of  f)eace,  and  in  this  treaty  the  King  of  England 
again  ceded  Nova  Scotia  to  the  French — disregarding  his  char- 
ter to  Massachusetts  and  opening  again  the  field  of  border  war. 

After  more  than  seventy  years  of  border  strife,  Nova  Scotia  had 
been  happily  annexd  to  Massachusetts,  under  one  government,  and 
the  people  were  citizens  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  treaty  of  1697 
neither  the  people  of  Nova  Scotia  nor  Massachusetts  were  consult- 
ed about  the  transfer. 

Sixteen  years  after  this,  at  the  conclusion  of  Queen  Anne's 
war  in  1713,  Nova  Scotia  was  again  ceded  to  the  English  ;  but 
justice  was  withheld  from  Massachusetts,  and  this  province  was 
not  restored  to  her  government  as  it  ought  to  have  been. 

I  have  confined  my  account  of  the  boundaries,  thus  far,  most- 
ly to  the  English  settlements,  and  have  anticipated  a  little  the  or- 
der of  time. 

In  the  year  1670,  a  remarkable  treaty  was  made  between  Eng- 
land and  France  and  Spain,  which  recognized  the  right  of  actual 
settlers  to  the  territory  which  they  discovered  and  occupied.  Af- 
ter this  treaty,  the  French  sent  out  several  expeditions  from 
France  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  from  Canada  to  explore  the 
rivers  and  lakes  at  the  South  and  West.  One  of  these  expedi- 
tions discovered  the  great  river  Mississippi,  and  surveyed  it  as 
high  as  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony.  General  La  Salle  sailed  down 
the  river  to  its  mouth,  and  coasted  the  Gulf,  and  finally  established 
a  French  settlement  on  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  St.  Barnard,  now 
called  Galveston  Bay. 

The  French  afterwards  extended  their  settlements  as  far  South- 


» 


American  Boundary  Question. 


15 


vince  was 


West  as  the  "Riviere  Grand,"  "Rio  Bravo"  of  the  Spanish,  nnd 
OS  far  North-East  as  Mobile.  This  whole  country  was  called  the: 
territory  and  ijovernment  of  Louisiana,  and  a  central  city  was  es- 
tablished on  the  Mississippi,  and  named  New  Orleans.  By  refer- 
ence to  the  Map,  yon  will  see  that  this  tract  of  country  embrncos 
almost  the  whole  of  Carolina,  a  part  of  Virfrinia,  and  sonic  of 
New  England — whose  charters  were  granted  from  twenty  to  fifty 
years  previous. 

The  English  colonists  made  some  attempts  to  settle  beyond  llie- 
AUe^anies  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  The  French  settled 
St.  Louis  and  some  places  on  the  Illinois — while  the  Spaniards,, 
contenting  themselves  with  claiming  the  whole  country,  confined 
their  settlements  to  the  vicinity  of  the  mines  of  gold  and  silver, 
extending  North  to  about  24  degrees  of  North  latitude. 

While  the  people  emigrating  from'Europe  were  endeavoring 
peaceably  to  possess  themselves  of  a  home  on  this  continent,  the 
various  sovereigns  from  whose  dominions  they  emigrated  were  en- 
gaged in  stiring  up  strife  among  them.  If  an  Englishman,  driv- 
en from  his  home  by  the  oppression  of  his  government,  sought  an 
asylum  in  America,  that  government  immediately  claimed  him  as 
a  subject,  and  the  country  to  which  he  had  fled,  as  a  part  of  its  do- 
minions. 

Fifty  years  of  border  war,  with  short  intervals  of  peace,  ensu- 
ed between  the  French  and  English,  from  the  treaty  of  1713  to 
1763,  savage  and  cruel  in  the  extreme  to  the  borderers.  The  na- 
tive inhabitants  were  hired  by  the  contending  governments  to  mas- 
sacre and  destroy  the  settlements  of  their  opponents ;  and  such 
scenes  of  cruelty  ensued  to  the  poor  settler,  that  the  historian  al- 
most loses  the  power  of  action  in  giving  them  record.  In  my  fu- 
ture numbers,  I  will  copy  some  of  them  to  keep  you  in  remem- 
brance of  the  sufferings  of  your  forefathers. 

One  act,  committed  by  the  British  government  upon  the  unof- 
fending French  settlers,  stands  in  bold  relief,  as  one  of  those  acts 
of  atrocity  which  stain  the  pages  of  the  British  oligarchy.  A 
whole  people  were  removed  from  their  possessions  in  Nova  Scotia,, 
and  their  houses  and  their  lands  taken  away  from  them.  This 
was  the  British  mode  of  settling  the  boundary  question  with  these- 
people.  The  neighboring  colonies  received  these  French  refu- 
gees, and  treated  them  kindly,  and  gave  them  a  home,  althoughi 
it  occasioned  a  heavy  tax  for  many  years. 


'%  ■ 


,-r- 


.V 


.4. 


4  ;  i- 


;k: 


?'!'■; 


~w 


I^o.  3. 


it-» 


.V 


THE   AMERICAN 

BOUNDARY     QUESTION. 


"We  're  a  world  by  ourselves,  and  disdain  a  division." 


More  tlian  fifiy  years  of  war,  vvitli  intervals  of  peace,  ensued 
between  tiio  Spanish,  Frencliand  En«flisii  colonies,  to  17(33,diirin^ 
wiiicii  time  the  border  warfare  between  the  French  and  English, 
was  horrid  and  savage.  I  have  read  of  such  horrid  acts  of  cru- 
elty as  makes  one's  blood  cuidle,  and  the  iiair  stand  erect.  Iti 
my  future  numbers,  I  will  copy  some  of  them.  One  act  of  vil- 
lainy committed  by  the  British  Government  upon  the  unoffend- 
ino-  French  descendants,  stands  in  bold  relief,  as  one  of  those  acts 
of  atrocity  which  stain  the  pages  of  the  history  of  the  Britisli 
Oligarchy.  A  whole  people  were  removed  from  their  possessions  iu 
Nova  Scotia,  and  their  houses  and  their  lands  taken  away  from 
them;— this  was  the  British  mode  of  settling  the  boundary 
question  with  these  people. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  States  of  America  received  these  French 
refugees,  and  treated  them  kindly  and  gave  them  a  home,  although 
it  was  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  States,  who  were  tiiemselves  suffer- 
ing from  the  expenses  of  the  war. 

The  treaty  of  1763  again  altered  the  American  boundaries,  by 
ceding  Canada  to  Britain,  and  Louisiana  to  Spain.  But  who  con- 
quered Canada?  Not  the  British  soldiers,  nor  the  warriors  of 
Europe, — but  the  Americans, — the  fathers  of  the  fathers  of  the 
Revolution.  And  why  did  they  conquer  it  ?  Because  they  wish- 
ed tolsettle  the  American  Boundary  Question,  and  stop  the  effusion 
of  blood  upon  the  border.  They  had  no  hatred  against  the  Ca- 
nadians;  they  received  them  as  brothers ;  but  they  had  a  great 
\'  antipathy  to  French  governors,  with  power  and  money  to  bribe 
the  Indians  to  procure  the  scalps  of  the  English. 

France  and  Spain  by  this  treaty  confirmed  to  Britain  the  Amer» 
ican  States  as  far  west  as  the  Mississippi, — the  Spanish  territory 
of  Florida  and  the  French  territory  of  Canada,     Here  the  Amer» 


;«.■ 


18 


American  Boundary  Question. 


I. 


icniis  supposed  they  hnd  n  froe  scope  for  setllemeiit,  nnd  that  the 
luiidj  which  had  heeii  ncquirod  hy  iheir  vnlor  would  be  grarited 
to  companies  hy  charter,  as  formerly,  that  the  enterprise  of  the 
American  people  might  settle  new  Slates, — when  lo  !  and  behold, 
appears  the  British  Kirig's  proclamation  setfinjf  up  new  boundaries 
for  the  Americans  by  his  imperial  will.  I  hope  my  readers  will 
consider  well  this  proclamation,  nnd  its  efTecls.  By  it  the  old  States 
were  forbidden  to  extend  their  settlements.  Beyond  their  present 
jurisdiction  was  claimed  property  of  the  crown.  Canada  was 
also  limited,  and  Nova  Scolia  described  and  bounded.  The  map 
by  which  Briti.>h  statesmen  of  that  day  made  these  marks  nnd 
bouiidurios  is  still  extant  and  will  be  published  in  my  illustra- 
tions of  the  boundary;  if  the  sale  will  pay  the  expense.  It  is 
quite  imperfect  in  many  particulars. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  the  original  charters  extended  to 
the  Pacific.  But  England  never  hnd  a  title  acknowledged  until 
now  to  the  Mississippi;  consequently  when  she  acquired  this 
right  the  charier  became  valid  not  only  against  European  govern- 
ments, but  njrainst  herself. 

Let  us  slop  and  breathe  a  little  here,  nnd  examine  the  map,  for 
this  is  an  important  point  in  the  boundary  question.  Virginia 
has  the  oldest  charter  arid  extends  from  34  to  40  degrees  and  west 
to  the  Mississippi,  including  North  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Kentucky 
und  part  of  Ohio,  (kc.  Massachusetts  is  next  in  order ;  it  comprises 
two  degrees  of  latitude,  from  42  to  44,  and  extends  also  to  the 
Mississippi,  including  part  of  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  New- 
York,  Upper  Canada,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  ;  and  including 
Nova  Scotia  and  Maine  to  the  great  river  of  Canada.  Connect- 
icut is  the  third  State  which  was  chartered,  and  includes  part 
of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana  nnd  Illinois.  The 
fourth  is  Carolina,  and  includes  the  whole  of  the  Territory  be- 
tween the  30th  and  34lh  parallels,  includinff  Georgia,  Alabama,  and 
Mississippi.  The  charter  extended  to  36°  30m,  but  this  part  had 
already  been  granted  to  Virginia.  The  fifth  is  New  York;  al~ 
though  mostly  within  the  other  jurisdictions,  it  had  acquired  a 
right  by  the  purchase  of  the  Indians,  and  the  consent  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut.  The  six  nations  of  Indians,  ceded 
their  country  to  New  York,  west  of  the  Hudson  river  to  Lake 
Erie,  and  north  to  the  city  of  Montreal.  These  boundariesgive  to 
New  York  as  much  Territory  on  the  north  of  Lake  Ontario,  as 
she  has  on  the  south,  and  would  make  the  State  about  twice  its 


W 


I 


American  Boundary  Question. 


19 


nd  that  the 

be  grnrited 

prise  of  the 

and  behold, 

boundaries 

readers  will 

le  old  States 

I  heir  present 

Canada  was 

The  map 

marks  and 

my  illiistra- 

)ense.     It  is 

extended  to 

edged  until 

cquired   this 

)ean  govem- 

the  map,  for 
n.  Virginia 
ees  and  west 
ee,  Kentucky 
it  comprises 
i  also  to  the 
ermont,  New 
nd  including 
a.  Connect- 
ncludes  part 
linois.  The 
Territory  be- 
illabama,  and 
this  part  had 
V  York ;  al- 
id  acquired  a 
?nt  of  Massa- 
idians,  ceded 
iver  to  Lake 
dariesgive  to 
3  Ontario,  as 
out  twice  its 


t 


» 


prosent  size.  These  were  the  only  States  which  were  particu- 
larly afToctod  by  the  King's  proclumution,  being  I'orbiddon  to  sell 
any  of  their  back  lands. 

Canada  was  restricted  to  narrow  limits,  although  the  treaty  of 
cession  guaranteed  thesatne  rights  of  extension  which  (he  inhab- 
ants  held  under  the  French  Government. 

The  restriction  of  these  boundaries,  ond  the  extension  of  the 
boundaries  of  Canada  westward,  with  the  numerous  acts  which 
followed  in  rapid  succession,  caused  the  war  of  1775,  commonly 
cal'ed  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  Canada  extension  boundary  law,  commonly  called  the 
Quebec  Act,  was  one  of  those  important  acts  which  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  whole  of  the  American  people.  They  be- 
held the  British  Government  erecting  a  despotic  power  at  the 
north  and  west  of  them. 

The  Americans  had  just  overthrown  the  French  power  in 
Canada,  in  order  to  settle  the  boundary  question,  and  unite  them- 
selves as  brethren  from  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  to  Georgia  and 
Florida, — when  behold  the  British  make  a  new  boundary  question, 
circumscribing  the  States  between  the  east  of  the  Ohio  and  the 
Atlantic. 

The  Canadians  were  equally  interested  with  all  the  other  States, 
to  settle  the  boundary  question,  and  to  be  free  and  independent 
with  their  brethren, — they  joined  with  alacrity  the  American 
standard,  and  Montreal  was  in  possession  of  the  Americans  before 
the  declaration  of  independence. 

Unfortunately  for  the  American  boundary  question,  and  for  the 
lives  of  those  who  are  yet  to  be  slain  in  battle  to  settle  it,  a  mil- 
itary governor  was  placed  in  and  over  Montreal,  by  the  name  of 
Benedict  Arnold.  Instead  of  calling  together  the  citizens,  and 
allowing  them  to  establish  their  own  government  and  committees 
of  safety  and  elect  members  to  Congress,  this  man  established  de- 
spotic rule.  He  seized  upon  the  goods  of  the  citizens,  confiscated 
them  under  plea  of  their  being  British  properly,  and  embezzled 
the  money  himself  Had  it  not  been  for  this  man,  Canada  would 
now  have  been  one  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  and  the  boundary 
question  would  have  been  settled  at  the  Revolution,  by  driving  the 
British  from  the  shores  of  America. 

The  Americans  began  the  Revolution,  determined  to  free  them- 
selves, and  to  free  their  country  from  despotism.  They  claimed 
the  whole  continent,  wherein  to  establish  their  system  of  demo- 


80 


American  Boundary  Question, 


■ .  'I 


cratic  lih(Mly.  Tlio  army  wns  culled  tlio  continental  army — the 
soldiers  were  ciillfd  comiiiunlals— and  the  money  is  to  this  day 
called  continetitiil  n]onoy.  In  llieir  patriotic  songs,  they  insisted 
that  "the  wlioii;  boundless  continent  is  onrs." 

Accordina;  to  the  Articles  of  the  old  Confederation,  new  States 
were  to  ho  admitted  into  the  Union  upon  certain  conditions,  with 
n  special  exception  in  favor  of  (Jnnoda;  for  Canada  at  any  time, 
hy  sendinjj  her  deley^atcsto  Cont;iess,  was  to  be  admitted  as  one  of 
the  Slutea  of  the  Union,  and  this  oji;reement  continued  until  1789, 
notwithstanding  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain,  for  Canada  was  not  a  party  to  that  treaty. 

The  founders  of  American  liberty  did  not  stop  to  consider  Amer- 
ican boundaries,  but  invited  all  who  would  come  and  join  them 
to  share  of  the  blessings  of  self  government.  The  Floridians 
wore  invited,  the  Louisianiaiis,  the  Nova  Scotians,  ns  well  as  the 
Canadians ;  and  any  States  on  this  continent  had  then  a  right  to 
petition  Couffress  for  admission  into  the  Union. 

I  h;ive  hastily  ran  through  the  time  from  the  first  discovery  of 
America  to  the  treaty  of  1763,  dofininfr  certain  boundaries  to  Amer- 
ican liberty.  By  reference  again  to  tho  map,  you  will  see  that 
we  were  still  circumscribed  to  narrow  boundaries;  the  only  terri- 
tory wc  had  gained  since  the  commencement  of  the  old  French 
War,  was  a  ri<;hl  to  extend  our  boundaries  west  from  the  Ohio  to 
the  Mississippi;  while  we  lost  the  free  novigntion  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  the  lakes  and  river  St.  Lawrence,  which  we  had  en- 
joyed before  the  Revolution.  The  history  of  this  treaty  of  boun- 
dories  is  both  curious  and  instructive. 

After  a  seven  years'  war,  in  which  all  Europe  and  America 
were  engaged,  either  remotely  or  directly,  the  countries  became  im- 
poverished, and  the  governments  desired  peace  because  they  had  no 
longer  the  ability  to  carry  on  the  war.  Various  and  opposing  princi- 
ples had  been  fought  for.  America  fought  for  the  rights  of  men  ; 
Great  Britain  fought  to  gain  power  and  to  rivet  more  firmly  the 
chains  of  despotism  upon  her  subjects  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
France  and  Spain  joined  in  the  contest  to  injure.  England, — and 
to  break  up  all  Protestant  Governments, — that  the  Inqusition  and 
power  of  the  Pope  might  be  again  established. 

When  such  a  war  was  being  ended  by  its  own  exhaustion,  it  is 
natural  to  suppose  that  each  party  would  act  in  accordance  to  its 
principles  in  making  peace.  Accordingly  secret  arrangements 
were  making  between  F'rance  and  Spain  to  make  a  treaty  with 


i 

i 


>  M. 


American  Boundary  Question.     > 


21 


1  army— the 

to  this  day 

they  insisted 

,  new  States 
diiions,  with 
at  any  time, 
led  us  one  of 
d  until  1789, 
'.8  and  Great 

nsider  Amer- 
iid  join  them 
e  Florid ians 
)  well  us  the 
en  a  right  to 

discovery  of 
iries  to  Amer- 
will  see  that 
li«  only  terri* 
B  old  French 
I  the  Ohio  to 
f  the  Missis- 
1  we  had  en- 
euty  of  boun- 

and  America 
js  became  im- 
e  they  had  no 
posing  princi- 
ghts  of  men ; 
re  firmly  the 
El  and  abroad, 
rjgland, — and 
iqusition  and 

haustion,  it  is 
ordance  to  its 
arrangements 
i  treaty  with 


i 


America,  to  continue  the  alliance,  otfi'M^ivc  and  defensive,  and  to 
prevent  llu>  Aniurican  coniniisi>iont>rs  iVoiu  inakiiiL'  a  ticaty  with 
England  without  tho  consent  of  France.  America  was  to  be 
considered  as  a  vassel  of  France.  The  Southern  boundary  be- 
tween Spain  and  the  United  States  was  to  commence  on  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean  at  the  north  of  the  Altaniaha  river,  and  extend  alutig 
the  middle  of  that  river  to  its  source  ;  thence  due  north  until  it 
reached  the  Tennessee  river  at  some  where  near  Knoxville ; 
thence  through  the  middle  of  that  river  to  the  Ohio,  and  down 
the  Ohio  to  tho  Mississippi,  thence  northerly  through  the  middle 
of  the  Mississippi.  While  they  agreed  to  restrict  thp  English  to 
the  north  side  uf  the  St.  Lawrence  until  tho  said  river  intersected 
the  45th  deg.  of  latitude  ;  thence  north  west  until  the  line  reach- 
ed the  north  east  part  of  the  Lake  Nipising ;  thence  in  a  straight 
lincN.  E.,  to  Lake  St.  John,  and  through  the  middle  of  the  river 
Seque,  to  the  St.  Lawrence;  leaving  tho  city  of  Montreal,  and  all 
the  territory  south  and  south  east  of  the  St.  Lawrence  attached. 
to  the  American  Union.  The  coast  of  Labrador,  and  all  the  north- 
ern coasts  of  America  were  to  be  considered  as  belonging  to  the  na- 
tives, and  to  be  free  for  all  nations  to  trade  thereto. 

The  British  commissioners  wished  to  make  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  free  States  and  the  British  provinces  commence  on 
the  Atlantic  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river,  following  the 
course  of  that  river  about  120  miles  according  to  the  original 
grant  to  Fernando  Gorges,  until  the  said  river  intersected  the 
45th|degree  of  latitude  ;  thence  on  the  said  parallel  until  it  crossed 
the  St.  liawrence ;  thence  through  the  middle  of  this  river  to 
to  Lake  Ontario,  through  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Genesee  river, 
through  the  middle  of  this  river  to  the  nearest  branob  of  the  Al- 
legany river,  through  the  middle  of  this  river  to  the  Ohio,  and 
through  the  middle  of  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi,  -f  . 

The  American  Commissioners  were  in  a  foreign  country,  sur- 
rounded by  enemies  and  beset  with  difficulty  and  danger  on  eve- 
ry side.  Their  great  object  was  to  conclude  a  treaty  of  peace, 
establishing  the  sovereignty  and  independence  of  these  United 
States,  knowing  that  the  native  energy  of  the  Americans  would 
establish  boundaries  for  themselves.  To  defeat  the  machinations 
of  France  and  Spain,  they  made  a  separate  treaty  with  Great 
Britain,  in  which  certain  boundaries  were  defined,  but,  as  was 
well  known  at  that  time,  were  liable  to  alteration — because  an 
agreement  was  in  existence,  allowing  Canada  at  any  time  to  ac- 


* .  f 


'il 


I 


I  :'  'I 


22 


American  Boundary  Question. 


coed  tf)  flio  Union.  This  \vf\s  known  to  tlio  Hiilish  rornmissionors 
at  llic  time  llity  .siyiud  llu;  trnily,  and  no  ol»joclion  wns  nindo  to 
it.  Of  course,  tliu  (,'aniulian  people  had  u  ri<;lit,  ucUnowled|;;ed 
by  tins  treaty,  to  send  in  tlieii  act  of  union  to  the  AuKMican  Con- 
gress;  and  tlioy  niiisi  have  ht^-n  admitted,  and  noexception  could 
be  taken  to  this  Met  on  the  part  of  Ciri'iit   Hritain. 

The  boundary  of  '.S3  eoninierued  at  the  mouth  of  iho  St.  Croix 
river.  Now  the  St  (.'roix  river  is  that  river  where  Captain  Jack 
Curlier  built  the  hiij-h  cross  in  1()31 — two  centuries  nuil  a  half 
previous.  This  cross  was  cut  down  by  order  of  the  Ii;(lii,n  Gov- 
ernment, injincdiadely  after  the  Jluropcans  left  tli'  r\j;inti3,  that 
no  traces  of  jiossession  miirht  be  left.  Fron-  lii  •  de!»cripti'>n  giv- 
en by  the  early  French  writers,  the  river  now  cadeti  i  lie  St.  John's 
was  the  rivtsr  wln-re  the  lioly  cross  was  s"t  \\v.  Of  course  the  St. 
John's  is  th(!  river  where  the  treaty  of  '83  connnences  the  bounda- 
ry. It  runs  north  to  near  the  latitude  of  48;  thence  south  west 
to  near  the  latiuide  of  41  ;  thenro  north  west  to  latitude  49. 

It  is  mucli  folic  reijrelted  that  our  Commissioncirs  had  not  con- 
tinued a  straight  line  west,  after  they  had  reached  the  48th  decree. 
This  would  have  confirmed  the  old  northern  boundary  of  New 
En;,r|and,  and  prevented  future  war.  The  citizens  of  Quebec, 
ftud  the  citizens  of  Montreal  would  then  have  been  American  cit- 
izen.s  und  their  great  men  would  have  assisted  at  the  councils  of 
the  nation. 

After  a  few  years  of  pence,  a  new  border  war  wns  commenced 
by  the  IiHlians,  insti<i:ated  by  the  British,  who  still  held  the  fort 
of  the  Americans  on  the  northern  frontier.  This  war  was  con- 
cluded by  the  treaty  of 'U4,  called  Jay's  treaty.  This  Avns  an  un- 
fortunate treaty  for  the  Americans.  The  Canadians  were  dissat- 
isfied that  they  were  excluded  from  the  American  Confederation, 
and  were  ready  to  join  the  Americans  to  expel  the  British,  and 
thus  settle  the  boundai_,  jUt  s.ird.  But  thero  wero  those  among- 
us,  who  cried  "  peace,  nci  .v  '  -^i  there  •  .s  no  peace,"  and  base- 
ly cringed  to  superior  iiiii.aii  diplomacy,  and  left  open  the  breach 
for  future  border  war,  which  soon  after  took  place,  and  we  com- 
menced by  fighting  the  Canadians,  who  were  our  friends,  to 
punish  the  British,  who  were  our  enemies.  Besides  we  were 
better  prepared  for  war  in  '94,  than  we  were  when  it  did  take 
place. 

The  next  boundary  question,  in  order  of  time,  is  the  Southern 
boundary  of  the  United  States  and  the  northery  boundery  of  the 


« 


4 

% 


American  lioundary  Question. 


23 


ornmissionoM 
wns  nindo  to 
ic  know  lodged 
iiKiiicnn  Con- 
ception could 

the  St.  Croix 
Capluin  Jack 
>s  nu'l  a  hulf 
lii(!ii,n  Gov- 
roiintt),  that 
.■»cripti"M  giv- 
I  lie  St.  John's 
course  the  St. 
s  thebounda- 
ce  south  west 
ude  49. 
had  not  con- 
48th  deojree. 
dary  of  New 
3  of  Quebec, 
Vniericun  cit- 
c  councils  of 

commenced 
Ijeld  the  fort 
ar  was  con- 
5  was  an  un- 
;  were  dissat- 
onfederation, 
British,  and 
hose  amon^ 
;e,"  and  base- 
n  the  breach 
ind  we  com- 
r  friends,  to 
des  we  were 
I  it  did  take 

he  Southern 
ndery  of  the 


territory  'I aimed  by  S|)oin.  Spain  claitufd  orisfiii  illy  the  wliolo 
of  AiuBricu,  ticrtli  and  south,  ntul  only  iravo  it  ii|i  ny  \m<:(}  meal, 
nsslio  w.'t !  ''ompellt  d  The  boundary  now  in  dispute  »*  tlie  Mis- 
sissippi. The  f'/nropean  power  cluHiud  both  suits  oi  ilie  Missis- 
sippi, a  l/i^h  up  aii  Saw  Madrid;  und  actually  li^  <:  iis  on  ibo 
cast  of  the  river  as  lii<(li  up  as  thf  wulnut  hills,  and  tlic  \  ii/.oo  riv- 
er, and  atfcinptt  1  to  interrupt  tbelVfr  niivi<ralion  of  tlio  Mioisissip- 
pi.  To  dis[)()sscss  the  iSpiiiii.uds  oi  this  counliy,  the  Aun:\  jiUS 
were  obliged  to  send  an  armed  force,  and  s(  mlc  ihe  Souiht  in  ltt***ii- 
dury  ([uestiou  by  the  help  of  Kuntuclvv  rillcs, 

A  now  and  important  era  occured  u\  the  Anierirun  boundary 
question  in  18011,  when  Spain  transrtrred  to  Fronce  the  whv)le  ol 
Louisiana,  and  soon  after  Frunro  ceded  ilio  whole  of  this     ;ist 
territory  to  tli^  United  States.      M'lius  the  power  of  JNir  >leon    "as 
nblo  to  effect  for  America   what  her  own  stati'snien   li  id  Utw^  in 
vain  tried  to  accomplisli.     A  great  revoWuion  was  here  •  (r<'ct»d 
without  a  single  drop  of  bloodshed       Spanish  subjects   boca, 
American  citizens,  and  were  received  into  the  bosom  of  the  Ann 
ican  family,  and  allowed  all  the  advaiitafres  of  American  <itizcuo 
How  dilferent  would  have  been  their  I  <i,  if  some  misfortune  had 
placed  them  under  the  British  Cloverm  icnt.     Tho  British  would 
never  have  surrendered  this  province  to  the  Americans,  'lUt  would 
have  sent  over  British  Governors  to  ruU  this  people  with  a  rod  ot 
iron. 

Louisiana  and  Cannda  were  originally  both  French  provinces. 
The  inhabitants  of  both  early  imbibed  tli  love  of  Liberty,  as  all 
Americans  do  ;  but  treaties  made  in  Eurc>[)e  unfortunately  placed 
the  latter  under  a  despotism. 

Two  brothers  originally  settled  in  Canada.  They  emigrated 
from  Franco,  and  settled  in  the  wilds  of  Ai  lerica.  One  of  them 
became  a  resident  of  Montreal ;  the  other  i  llowed  the  fortunes  of 
La  Salle  in  his  expedition  to  the  Mississippi  about  the  year  1()80, 
and  finally  became  a  resident  of  Louisiana.  A  descetidunt  of  tho 
latter  was  recently  a  respected  member  of  the  Americon  Congri}ss  ; 
while  a  descendant  of  the  former,  for  his  ardent  love  of  liberty, 
was  hanged  for  high  treason  in  Canada,  by  order  of  the  British 
Government.  Since  the  foundation  of  the  American  Government, 
no  one  has  been  put  to  death  for  treason,  although  we  are  collect- 
ed together  from  all  the  nations  of  Europe. 

Tho  boundaries  of  Louisiana,  as  described  by  the  ancient 
French  authors,  and  admitted  by  the  Spanish,  appear  to  have 


24 


American  Bowidery  Question. 


been  ttxlendcd  aloiifj  the  g-ulf  Mexico,  commencing  on  the  east  at 
Mobile  bay,  mid  exlendiu;;  all  along  the  Gulf  to  the  Rio  Grande 
— incliidiiiir  all  that  vast  valley  between  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  Mississippi,  including  the  present  States  of  Texas  and  Co- 
upuila,  Most  of  this  country  was  within  the  original  limits  of 
Carolina,  so  that  it  belonged  to  the  American  Government,  both  by 
charter  froiri  tiic  English,  and  by  cession  from  the  French.  By 
the  original  cliarter  of  Carolina,  the  whole  territory,  from  the  At- 
lantic to  tlie  l^vcific,  between  the  parallels  of  30  and  36  degrees 
of  north  latitude,  v/as  included  in  her  limits.  By  the  cession  of 
Louisiana  the  whole  of  this  territory  was  confirmed  to  the  United 
States  as  lur  west  us  the  Rio  Grande,  by  the  French  and  Spanish 
Governnierifs,  uiid  acquiesced  in  by  the  English  ;  and  yet  we  see 
the  New  State  of  'IVxas  erected  into  a  separate  government, 
within  the  acknowledged  limits  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
government  of  Great  Britain  among  the  first  to  make  a  treaty 
with  them — and  undoubtedly  this  power  would  be  the  first  to 
make  a  separate  treaty  with  any  of  the  States  of  this  confederar 
tion,  should  any  one  separate  from  the  Union. 

In  my  illustrations  of  the  American  boundary  question,  I  pro-? 
|)ose  to  publish  various  original  documents,  showing  the  French 
possession  of  all  this  country  as  far  west  as  the  Rio  Grande.  If 
Texas  is  exchided  from  the  Union,  Louisana,  and  all  the  territory 
west  of  the  Mississippi  ought  to  be  excluded  on  the  same  prinr 
xiple. 

The  border  war  of  1812  is  too  recent  to  need  any  illustration 
for  the  present  generation ;  but  as  1  am  writing  for  the  information 
of  unborn  ages,  I  will  make  a  few  remarks,  referring  to  the  books 
which  contain  the  history  of  the  times. 

After  the  treaty  of  1794,  we  were  not  disturbed  in  our  borders 
by  the  English  for  nearly  ten  years  ;  but  their  jealousy  commenc- 
ed with  the  accession  of  Louisiana  to  the  Federal  Union,  and  for 
eight  years  this  nation  carried  on  a  war  of  depredation  upon  our 
commerce,  plundering  our  ships,  impressing  our  seamen,  and 
furnishing  arms  and  ammunition  to  the  red  men  of  the  forest, 
to  enable  these  wild  people  to  murder  the  frontier  inhabitants. 


No*  4. 


•-:*•, 


THE   AMERICAN 

BOUNDARY     QUESTION 


"We  're  a  world  by  oamlves,  and  disdain  a  division." 


In  the  eurly  colonial  ijistory  of  Massacluisetts,  you  will  find  a 
law  making  it  a  capital  ofrcnse  tor  any  ciiizen  to  sell  arms  to  the 
savaj^es — tiiose  who  furnished  aims  In-Ainj  aiders  and  abettors  in 
the  murders.  The  British  ^roverntnont  have  often  violated  this 
law,  and  have  assisted  the  Indians  to  murder  the  descendants  of 
their  own  people. 

Had  the  King  of  England  acted  with  the  greatness  of  Napole- 
on, and  ceded  Canada  to  the  American  Union  in  1804,  how  ma- 
ny lives  of  honest  citizens  would  have  been  saved,  future  wars 
prevented,  and  the  Araericjin  boundary  qnesiion  settled. 

By  our  treaty  of  '83  with  England,  wo  had  no  right  to  any  ter- 
ritory west  of  the  Mississippi,  aiid  no  rijilit  to  any  territory  east 
of  that  river  below  31  degrees  of  North  latitude.  While  the 
French  or  Spanish  held  this  territory,  the  British  could  make  a 
treaty  with  them  for  the  navigation  of  this  vast  river,  to  tiie  entire 
exclusion  of  the  Atnericans  below  this  latitude. 

In  tlie  year  1805,  the  French  l-iUiperor  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
King  of  England,  desiring  peace  between  the  two  nations. — ''The 
world  issuificiently  large  for  our  two  nations  to  live  in  it,  and  rea- 
son is  sufficiently  powerful  to  discover  means  of  reconciling  them 
when  the  wish  for  reconciliation  exists  on  both  sides.  1  have  ful- 
filled a  sacred  duty  and  trust ;  your  majesty  will  believe  in  the  sin- 
cerity of  my  sentiments,  and  my  wish  to  give  you  every  proof  of 
it." 

The  reply  of  the  British  government  ought  to  he  recollected  by 
every  American  interested  in  the  boundary  question  of  this  coun- 
try. The  King  is  made  to  say  that  he  can  not  answer  the  over- 
ture that  has  been  made  to  him,  until  he  has  had  time  to  connnu- 
nicate  with  the  powers  on  the  continent,  with  whom  he  is  engaged 
in  confidential  connexions  and  relations,  and  particularly  the  llm- 
peror  of  Russia. 


i'M 


'■^. 


>^  m 


r   ■- 1 


»'-  T 


26 


:\U 


n 


V- 


Amtrican  Boundary  Question, 


In  Anj^nst,  1814,  tho  Amcricnii  nnd  British  Commisfioners  met 
to  conclude  a  treaty  of  peiice;  and  nt  the  same  time  a  powerful  ar- 
mament of  land  and  tiaval  forces  was  fitted  out  very  secretly,  to 
conquer  New  Orleans,  and  consequently  the  whole  of  Louisiana. 
Various  delays  were  made  hy  the  British  Commissioners,  until  it 
was  supposed  that  New  Orleans  was  in  the  hands  of  the  British 
General ;  for  it  was  supposed  there  would  he  hut  little  resistance. 
The  first  battle  happened  on  the  23d  of  December,  and  the  treaty 
of  peace  was  signed  on  the  2'llh. 

The  instructions  of  the  British  government  to  their  commission- 
ers were,  to  adhere  to  the  old  boundaries  of  '83,  for  the  adjust- 
ment of  which  (.'omuiissioners  should  be  appointed  They  were 
not  to  recoifnize  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  Louisiana — sup- 
posing this  in  their  possession.  All  places  were  to  be  restored  on 
either  side  which  had  been  captured;  but  the  British  meaning  of 
this  clause  was,  that  the  United  Stales  extended  no  further  West 
than  the  Mississippi,  and  iio  further  South  than  the  31st  degree  of 
latitude;  atid  their  commissioners  were  to  call  in  question  otie  half 
the  State  of  Maine,  which  had  remained  undisputed  for  thirty 
years. 

An  alliance  had  been  formed  between  the  four  principal  kings 
of  Europe,  to  put  down  all  popular  governments  and  maintain 
themselves  on  their  thrones.  By  this  powerful  nlliance.  Napoleon 
had  been  overthrown,  the  kingdom  of  France  reduced  to  the 
boundaries  of  1792,  the  king  of  Spain  restored  to  his  dominions, 
and  Louisiana  was  to  be  held  by  the  British  as  a  Spanish  province, 
until  the  Island  of  Cuba  should  be  ceded  to  her  by  the  Spanish 
government,  or  other  compensation  made  for  the  expenses  of  the 
war  of  tho  peninsula.  Fortunately  for  the  Americans,  the  victory 
of  the  8th  of  January  frustrated  these  plans  for  the  time;  but  A- 
merica  is  yet  in  the  power  of  the  holy  alliance,  who  may  yet  dic- 
tate boundaries  to  her. 

The  next  boundary  question  in  order  was  the  separation  of 
Mexico  from  Spain.  The  settled  parts  of  Mexico  did  not  extend 
North  further  than  the  24th  degree  of  latitude,  while  the  territories 
claimed  by  Spain  extended  as  far  North  as  the  40th  degree. 

The  country  between  the  30ih  and  40th  degrees  was  included 
in  the  charters  of  Virginia  and  Carolina,  nnd  belonged  to  these 
States.  The  country  between  the  24th  and  30th  degrees  was  in- 
habited by  independent  tribes  of  Indians,  nominally  under  the  ju- 
risdiction of  Spain. 


American  Boundary  Question. 


27 


ers  met 
arfiil  ur* 
reily,  to 
uisiana. 
until  it 
I  British 
sistance. 
le  treaty 

mission- 
ndjiist- 
ey  were 
la— sup- 
torcd  on 
anin^  of 
ler  West 
It'gree  of 
otie  half 
ir  thirty 

pal  kings 
maintain 
<apoleon 

to  the 
minions, 
province, 
Spanish 

s  of  the 
B  victory 
! ;  but  A- 

yet  dic- 

ation  of 
t  extend 
Brritories 
5e. 

ncUided 

to  these 

was  in- 

!r  theju- 


The  citizens  of  Mexico,  together  with  delegates  from  the  neigh- 
boring states,  declared  their  indepeiideiiee  of  Sptiii),  which  they 
had  a  right  to  do;  but  they  had  no  jurisdiction  over  these  remote 
territories.  Yet  the  Mexican  government  would  not  make  a  trea- 
ty with  Spain,  until  Spain  relinquished  all  her  right  to  any  part 
of  the  territory,~believing  it  not  safe  to  have  a  Spanish  govern- 
menton  their  Northern  frontier.  Hud  the  Anglo-Americans  acted 
m  this  way,  and  said  that  Canada  was  a  part  of  the  Union,  and 
we  will  make  no  peace  until  it  is  incorporated  as  an  integral  part 
thereof,  the  boundary  question  would  have  been  settled. 

Without  waiting  for  a  settlement  between  Mexico  and  Spain, 
the  United  States  hastened  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of  the 
former,  and  made  a  treaty  ot  boundaries  before  they  had  been  set- 
tled between  the  two  contending  powers.  This  was  well  enough, 
if  it  had  been  carried  far  enough.  The  United  States  declared 
that  she  would  not  recognize  the  right  of  Spain  to  any  of  this  vast 
continent  which  that  nation  had  discovered,  conquered  and  peo- 
pled. Mexico  ought  to  have  declared  that  she  would  not  recog- 
nize the  right  of  Britain  to  any  part  thereof. 

1825  was  remarkable  for  a  treaty  between  Russia  and  England, 
recognizing  and  limiting  certain  boundaries  on  the  North-West 
coast  of  America.  You  will  observe  that  the  lines  of  boundary 
have  generally  run  with  the  parallels  of  latitude.  Here  is  a  devi- 
ation from  that  rule,  and  the  line  runs  longitudinally,  dividing  a 
large  tract  between  two  European  powers.  The  line  extends  from 
near  the  HOlh  degree  of  West  longitude  from  London,  to  the 
Northern  Ocean  ;  and  all  on  the  west  of  this  line  is  called  Russian 
America,  and  on  the  east  British  America. 

Here  are  inhabitants  settled,  governing  themselves  by  their  own 
laws  and  settling  their  own  boundaries  between  the  difHrent  na- 
tions whose  manners  and  customs  and  languajre  is  not  understood 
by  either  of  the  governments  who  have  divided  this  country,  and 
the  possession  of  which  has  always  been  and  still  is  in  the  origi- 
nal natives.  It  is  monstrous— it  is  absurd,  that  two  such  govern- 
ments should  attempt  to  claim  the  jurisdiction  of  such  a  country, 
so  far  from  their  respective  seats  of  government. 

My  young  readers,  1  request  you  here  to  pause  and  turn  to  the 
early  histories  of  England  and  Russia.  The  one,  but  a  few  short 
years  since,  obtained  permission  of  a  people  called  Britons  by  the 
Romans,  to  make  a  settlement  on  the  Island  of  Thanet,  and 
have  the  government  and  jurisdiction  of  this  Island.     The  people 


*, 


T,;*J 


I  -t  I 


I  "1 


L 


V- 


1:1 


r 


^'!li 


..  *. 


'i  ■  I 


i:,.l 


(i 


1  , 


■4'  ',-■ 


.♦•' 


28 


American  Boundary  Qnesdnn. 


were  ciUed  Anple?e  by  ihe  Unmans.  From  this  small  beginning 
comes  the  nation  whom  wo  now  call  EnuHsh.         ■   •<> 

The  Russians  were  a  small  colony  ot'  Mnscoviles,  known  only 
a  few  centuries  hack  as  a  harbarows  and  savage  people  ;  and  the  na- 
tions of  the  north-west  coast  of  America  niiiiht  with  the  same  pro- 
priety divide  Russia  and  the  nritisli  Llmfure  amoni;  themselves,  ns 
for  tlie'^e  jiovcrnments  to  cut  up  tliuir  territory.  But  it  is  one 
thiny;  to  claim  on  paper,  another  to  com^ner,  subdue  and  settle. 

I  have  thus  hasiily  run  thro;i:;h  the  various  American  bounda- 
ries, from  tlifj  year  1470  to  ['S2~>,  oc!cn()yinn;  a  space  of  three  and  a 
half  centuries.  You  have  already  li-arned  that  the  American 
contincMit  was  discovon^d  by  Columbus,  a  poor  sailor  boy,  born  un- 
der a  repiiblicn  irovernmonf, — was  eluimrd  by  Portug'al,  by  Spain, 
and  l)y  Eniiiand  ;  and  by  all  the  principles  of  equity  and  justice^ 
the  repub^licans  of  Europe  had  a  riu'ht  to  seltle  this  country,  and 
establish  repnlilicau  i:;overnments  to  suit  themselves,  without  any 
interference,  from  the  liinos  of  the  old  world. 

You  have  al^o  seen  ihat  the  diifenuit  kinas  of  Europe  claimrd 
the  whole  or  part  of  this  newly  discovered  country.  S|)ain  claim- 
ed the  v/hole  eoniineiit,  from  huvinu  encouraged  the  first  discove- 
ry, and  from  tlie  "rant  from  t'uo  pope;  Portug^al  claimed  South  A- 
merica  by  right  of  discovery,  and  by  a  prior  ^nant  from  the  pope. 
France  claimed  a  lariio  portion  by  right  of  discovery  atid  settle- 
metjt,— for  as  early  as  153  1,  she  discovered  and  settled  Canada  and 
in  1502  she  discovered  and  -(filled  Carolina.  The  English  made 
no  pretensions  to  any  chiim,  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  after 
the  first  discovery,  and  dtiriny  the  greater  part  of  this  time  this  lat- 
ter government  ackuowledged  the  right  of  Spain  to  the  whole 
country. 

Henry  VII.  was  then  King  of  England,  and  he  was  engaged 
in  making  a  treaty  wiili  Spain  lor  the  nuirriajre  of  his  son  to  the 
Spanish  king's  daughter;  and  so  jealous  were  the  Spaniards,  that 
to  have  claimed  any  part  of  An:erica  would  have  broken  off  that 
treaty.  He  was  obliged  to  discountenance  the  expedition  of  Se- 
bastian Cabot,  and  allow  ifiat  na\igator  to  be  employed  bv  Spain. 
Henry  Vlil.  reigned  about  halt  a  century,  and  was  employed  part 
of  the  time  in  getting  rid  of  the  wife  which  his  father  had  taken 
so  much  pains  to  negotiate  for  him,  and  part  of  the  time  in  marry- 
ing and  deposing  others,  and  until  his  death  his  quarrel  with  me 
Pope  of  Rome  continued. 

Edward  YI.  was  a  minor.     His  sister  Mary,  who  succeeded 


;(.  ,';. 


m 


3f*> 


■  ">-•■ 


•  I. 


\ 


American  Boundary  Question. 


29 


0  succeeded 


him,  married  llio  Kin":  of  Spain,  and  renewed  the  treaties  i'<  r  ti.e 
exclusive  right  of  Spain  to  all  Ameiicii— granting  privilejiie,  l,o\v- 
ever,  to  any  Enyli>linian  to  iiavel  and  tiade  in  any  of  il.cSjan- 
ii-h  territories  while  the  two  kinudonis  were  united.  It  was  in 
this  reiijii  that  the  English  became  neqnainted  with  America,  arid 
had  commenced  carry injj:  on  an  extensive  conimeKf!  ihronph  all 
its  parts.  We  hear  of  their  merchimtsin  North  and  South  Amer- 
ica, in  Mexico,  and  in  the  various  West  India  Islands. 

After  Mary's  sister  Elizabetli  succeeded  tlie  thione,  hein^  a  y.Yo- 
testant,  the  Engiish  were  all  hanibhed  fronr  the  Sjianish  duminien  ; 
yet  this  Q.iieen,  duriuix  her  whole  reign,  did  not  claim  any  part  of 
America,  and  when  she  granted  a  cliarter  to  Walter  llaleigh,  it 
was  a  power  to  go  into  foreign  countries,  to  besiege  castks,  subdue 
nations,  and  take  possession  of  such  as  he  could  conquer,  lie 
had  no  limits  of  territory  assigned  him,  and  miglil  have  gone  to 
China  as  well  as  to  Anierica. 

The  first  grant  of  any  American  territory  by  the  Eufjlish  gov- 
ernment, was  by  James  I.  king  of  Great  IJritain  ;  and  during  Ids 
hfe  time  he  granted  to  his  subjects,  and  others  in  alliance  with 
him,  the  whole  territory  between  the  30lh  and  48di  degrees  of 
north  latitude,  and  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  great  South  Sea. 
The  various  charters  granted  gave  the  liifht  to  the  people  to  go 
and  settle,  and  to  establish  there  their  own  governmetit  and  elect 
their  own  governor.  Their  gr.mts  are  good  as  res[)ects  the  En- 
glish government  only;  that  government  Iiad  no  right  to  the  terri- 
tory ;  but  the  people  had  a  right  to  go  and  settle — to  make  pur- 
chases of  the  Indians,  and  to  make  treaties  with  the  French  and 
Spanish,  who  were  the  acknowledged  sovereigns. 

In  the  course  of  successive  centuries,  we  have  seen  America 
settled — we  have  seen  the  sovereigns  of  Etirope  retiring  one  alter 
another,  and  giving  up  their  claims  to  any  part  of  America — Spain, 
Portugal.  France,  Sweden,  Holland,  all  except  England.  The 
other  European  governments  are  willing  America  should  govern 
herself  in  her  own  way.  England  strives  to  dictate  terms  to  A- 
merica,  and  will  not  retire  from  the  contest.  A  seven  year's  war 
fc^he  waged  with  her  own  children,  to  regain  tliat  wjiich  she  had 
granted  av/ay.  Mow  much  more  magnanimous  was  tlio  conduct 
of  France,  in  ceding  that  great  country  of  Louisiana  without 
bloodshed.  The  Louisianians  ought  to  hold  that  nation  always  in 
grateful  remembrance  ;  while  the  Canadians  ought  always  to  hold 
the  British  in  the  utmost  abhorrence. 


foil 


'i 


30 


American  Boundary  Quesiioti. 


I- 

I 


I 

'i. 
r 


The  tjrniit  ennrny  of  America  is  Britain  ;  and  this  yon  must 
teacli  to  your  children  and  children's  children,  until  Britain  retires 
from  Iheconlest,  and  relinquishes  America  to  be  ^over^ed  by  her 
own  people.  Until  that  takes  place,  American  liberty  is  not  secure  ; 
and  you  must  hear  this  in  mind,  that  the  great  battle  for  American 
liberty  is  yet  to  be  fonrrht.  The  monument  of  Bunker  Hill  com- 
tniv.nnrjites  the  beijinninf;  of  the  strufj»,de  of  liberty.  Where  the 
last  Mritish  flajr  shall  be  hauled  down,  there  a  monument  will  com- 
memorate the  end  and  downfall  of  tyranny. 

llaviuff  gone  throujrh  the  whole  of  the  American  boundary 
question  from  ihe  beginning,  and  shown  yon  that  Spain  claimed 
the  whole  of  America  at  one  time,  with  greater  justice  than  Brit- 
ain now  claims  a  part,  I  will  proceed  to  show  you  your  weakness 
while  this  latter  power  retains  its  present  hold. 

The  great  center  of  American  enterprise  and  population  will  be 
upon  and  around  those  vast  lakes  or  inland  seas,  in  the  interior 
and  very  center  of  North  America.  Being  situated  about  hnlf 
way  from  the  equator  to  the  pole,  in  a  healthy  climate  and  fruitful 
soil,  these  lakes  should  be  free  for  American  citizens  to  pass  and 
repass,  without  applying  to  the  Court  of  Great  Britain  for  a  permit. 
As  far  south  as  latitude  4;?  north,  at  Fort  Maiden,  the  British  claim 
the  right  of  soil.  Here  they  can  collect  and  maintain  an  immense 
army,  almost  in  the  center  of  the  States  of  America— being  more 
than  six  hundred  miles  in  the  inferior,  south  of  most  of  the  Slates 
of  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  of  the  whole  of  the  Stales  of 
Vermont,  New  Hampshire  and  Maine,  and  part  of  Pennsylvania; 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Ohio,  Indianna  and  Michigan, 
— holding  a  controlling  influence  over  all  the  Indian  tribes,  and 
ready  at  any  moment  to  employ  them  to  laisethe  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife,  as  they  frequently  have  done  before.  This  is  the 
northern  position  of  the  American  boundary  question  at  present — 
an  enemy  in  our  very  bosom. 

Now  take  the  map  of  America  in  your  hand,  and  turn  your 
eyes  to  the  south.  Here  you  will  find  that  the  British  claim  al- 
most all  the  West  India  Islands ;  not  by  right  of  discovery  and 
settlement,  but  by  the  power  of  the  sword — by  conquest  from  Spain. 
St.  Domingo  is  said  to  be  a  republic  ;  but  if  you  turn  to  the  histo- 
ry of  that  country,  you  will  find  that  the  government  is  a  military 
despotism,  with  a  black  chief  at  its  head,  and  under  the  protection 
of  England. 


American  Boundary  Question. 


31 


••  il 


lation  will  be 
I  the  interior 
1  about  half 
I  and  fruitful 

to  pass  and 

for  a  permit. 
British  claim 

an  immense 
-bein^  more 
of  the  States 

le  Stales  of 

nnsylvania; 

d  Michigan, 
tribes,  and 

iiahawk  and 
This  is  the 

at  present — 

turn  your 
sh  claim  al- 
scovery  and 
from  Spain, 
to  the  histo- 
s  a  military 
e  protection 


The  next  step  of  the  British  conrt  will  be  to  rovolntionizo  the 
black  population  of  the  Southern  Stales,  and  nppoiiit  a  black  Kingf 
or  President  for  life,  under  the  protection  ot  England,  and  make  a 
treaty  ofFtjnsive  and  defensive  with  him— that  is  to  say,  make  him 
subservient  to  the  views  of  the  British  Cabinet.  Thou  they  will 
make  a  similar  treaty  with  the  south-western  Indians,  atid  stntion 
I  British  officers  amoiijr  them,  ostensibly  recoonizing  them  as  an  in- 
dependent nation,  but  virtually  a  colony  of  Great  Britain. 

The  Oregon  Territory  is  already  in  possession  of  the  British, 
land  a  great  deal  of  hard  fighting  will  be  required  before  they  will 
[surrender  it  to  the  Americans. 

Tne  British  government  have  already  made  a  treaty  with  Texas, 
jwhich  State  may  be  considered  as  West  Carolma,  as  it  was  origi- 
Inally  included  in  the  Charter  of  Carolina,  alterwards  claimed  by 
[the  French,  and  ceded  to  us  with  Louisiana,  as  far  as  the  river 
[Bravo,  and  is  now  settled  principally  by  emigrants  from  South  Car- 
)lina  and  the  other  Southern  States.  With  this  state,  Great  Brit- 
lin  has  already  made  a  treaty,  and  will  avail  herself  of  the  first  op- 
Iportunity  to  make  a  treaty  with  any  State  that  secedes  from  the 
[Union. 

But  the  greatest  benefit  to  Great  Britain,  and  the  greatest  injury 
to  America,  will  be  the  establishment  of  the  black  kingdom  in  the 
Southern  States.  The  British  merchants  will  then  be  enabled  to 
Command  the  entire  cotton  trade,  in  the  establishment  of  a  military 
lespotism,  similar  to  that  now  established  in  Hayti.  The  planters 
rill  be  driven  off,  and  the  negroes  will  raise  cotton  for  the  British 
[actors,  for  three  or  four  cents  a  pound.  The  British  will  be  able 
p  accomplish  all  this  by  means  of  their  steam  ships,  and  their  free 
jegro  poptilation  of  the  West  Indies,  and  their  extensive  manu- 
factories of  fire  arms  in  Birminffham. 

By  holding  the  key  of  the  lakes,  in  the  possession  of  Fort  Mal- 

ien,  and  the  entire  control  of  the  cotton  trade  of  the  South,  this  na- 

jion  will  be  able  to  smuggle  any  amount  of  goods  into  the  republic, 

In  defiance  of  our  revenue  laws,  to  the  great  injury  of  the  trade, 

jommerce  and  manufactures  of  the  Northern  States — as  with  her 

jecent  war  with  China  she  has  already  estnbli.shed  the  principle 

jhat  she  will  fight  to  protect  smugglers.     The  American  boundary 

rhich  will  then  be  dictated  to  this  republic,  will  be  in  some  nian- 

Jer  conformable  to  the  Quebec  act  of  1774,  allowing  us  perhaps  to 

|xtend  west  as  far  as  the  Mississippi — say  commencing  on  the  At- 

intic  shore  in  Passamaquoddy  Bay,  at  the  45th  degree  of  latitude. 


\\' 


I  r/t 


, '  f  1  i ' 


■•  ;j> 


■}•     Iff  « 


■'*♦. 


o4 


.  .  I* 


;4>. 


Amvrican  lioundary  Question. 


«  *  : 


nnd  continuing  on  tliis  parallel  to  tho  river  St.  Lawrence;  up  that 
river  iUKJ  tlnnni,''li  tlio  lakes,  ns  at  present,  to  the  head  of  Lake  Su- 
perior; fVoni  ihcre  to  (Ik;  head  of  the  St.  Croix  river;  down  said 
river  to  the  Mississippi  ;  down  tho  Missis>ippi  to  the  Ohio;  up  the 
Ohio  to  the  'lV'i)ness(!C!  river,  until  smd  river  intersects  theSolh  de- 
.'j;ree  of  latitude;  and  aiooir  this  parallel  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean. — 
'I'he  Indiiins  west  of  iIk;  Mississippi  will  he  acknowledged  as  Brit- 
ish sdhjeets;  and  tlio  Xc^Ljroes  of  the  South  will  either  be  establish- 
<>i.l  as  u  si'parate  kin;j:dotn  under  the  protection  of  IJritait),  or  nek- 
nowledLrnd  as  IJritisli  suhjccls,  and  a  IMtish  governor  sent  over  to 
govern  iliciii. 

Tht'  I'liiiilish  naliftn  Onni  the  ho^-inning,  have  been  made  up  by 
coiupiesf  —  hy  annexing  one  stale  alter  another  to  its  dominions, 
inilil  at  this  time  it  has  grown  in  greatness  to  such  proud  estate 
that  this  haughty  government  presumes  to  dictate  laws  to  the 
whole  earth.  'IMie  Governnienis  of  tlu;  Stales  of  America  are 
foniided  upon  a  dilfurent  principle,  particularly  the  Govenmieut 
of  the  United  Slatt;s  of  North  Atnerica.  It  is  a  union  of  various 
independeiit  eominunities,  hy  cunsent  of  the  people;  and  this  un- 
ion has  hecn  iiiercasiii;,^  and  extending  from  the  first  settlement  of 
the  country,  and  has  pr('ventcd  niiich  bloodshed. 

The  small  extent  of  the  boundaries  of  the  first  union  is  worthy 
of  your  coiKsideration.  Head  over  those  early  recoids  with  pa- 
tience and  persev(!rance,  and  collect  wisdom  from  the  doings  of 
your  ancestors;  they  did  not  take  kings  for  their  pattern,  neither 
did  they  look  to  the  higli  places  of  the  earth  for  counsel ;  but  with 
a  devotion  peculiar  to  the  times,  they  sought  wisdom  from  the  King 
of  Kings,  to  enable  them  to  establish  that  union  aujong  men, 
which  should  produce  peace  on  their  borders,  and  perpetuity  of 
yood  ii:overnm(.'iit. 

The  present  small  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut 
were  divided  into  four  separate  and  independent  governments — 
Plymouth— I\Iassaeliusetis  13i»y — Connecticut  and  New  Haven  — 
the  s(;ttled  parts  of  which  did  not  comprise  more  than  four  thou- 
sand square  miles.  From  this  small  beginning  has  arisen  this  ex- 
tensive union. 

Those  who  formed  the  first  union  probably  did  not  contemplate 
including  the  D;itcli  of  i\eu  York,  imich  less  the  F^rench  of  New 
Orleans,  or  the  Spaniards  of  Florida  ;  and  yet  you  see  that  our 
glorious  union  is  more  complete  by  tlieir  addition,  and  would  be 
still  more  so  if  Canada  was  admitted  as  a  member.  • 


WfT»-" 


'^ 


v 


*!f>. 


il 


American  Boundary  Question. 

The  principles  of  this  union  were  dinmef^Vally  opposite  to  the 
principles  of  the  English  government.  The  .le  is  voluntary,  the 
other  compulsory. 

The  voluntary  union  of  states  under  one  federal  head,  is  a  sys- 
tem cipable  of  being  extended  through  the  entire  continent  of 
North  and  South  America  ;  and  no  European  power  has  any  right 
to  interfere  or  to  dispute  such  boundaries  as  wc  choose  to  make  a- 
mong  ourselves.  Accordingly  you  will  find  the  principle  admitted 
in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  that  new  states  may  be 
admitted  into  the  union. 

You  will  recollect  that  the  Constitution  went  into  operntion  in 
1789 ;  and  at  that  time  the  western  boundary  of  the  conlederation 
was  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  southern  boundary  the 
3l8t  degree  of  North  latitude.  Since  that  epoch,  new  states  and 
territories  have  been  admitted  into  the  union,  extending  fur  beyond 
these  boundaries.  In  1803,  the  whole  territory  of  Louisiana  was 
admitted  as  a  part  of  this  union — extending  to  the  "  Rivier  Grand  " 
of  the  French,  "  Rio  Bravo"  of  the  Spanish,  on  the  south,  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains  on  the  west.  The  inhabitants  of  part  of  this 
territory  have  since  formed  themselves  into  states,  under  regular 
constitutional  governments  ;  some  states  have  been  allowed  to  take 
their  seats  by  delegation  in  the  Congress  of  the  Union,  while  some 
have  asked  to  be  admitted  and  were  refused.  Louisiana  State, 
Arkansas  and  Missouri  have  been  admitted,  while  the  large  coun- 
try now  called  Texas,  which  applied  for  admission  with  precisely 
the  same  rights,  was  refused  ! !  Onr  treaty  making  power  has 
fallen  into  the  European  dogma,  that  it  is  neccessary  to  ask  the 
kings  of  Europe  how  fur  our  limits  extend,  and  that  it  is  not  ne- 
cessary to  ask  the  people  themselves,  under  what  government  they 
choose  to  live. 

It  is  very  important  that  you  carefully  watch  over  this  delega- 
tion of  power,  which  you  have  conferred  upon  your  treaty  makers. 
One  man  m.\y  mako  a  treaty,  relinquishintr  your  claims  to  a  large 
tract  of  country  ;  this  treaty,  when  once  ratified,  becomes  the  law 
of  the  land,  and  you  have  no  redress  but  by  appeal  to  arms.  A 
treaty  may  be  very  beneficial  for  one  generation,  and  the  next  gen- 
eration may  find  it  very  greivous  to  hear. 

Wiien  you  arrive  at  the  part  of  the  boundary  question  relating 


I 


I. 

I 


in 


American  Boundary  Question. 


In 


•t  • 

I' 


»:i 


Iff'  'i  "f 

11'    I '"' 


ff';  •■■, 


I  <  I', 

■■h 


to  Texas,  I  recommend  you  to  pause  in  this  narrntivo,  and  read 
over  the  French  histories  of  the  IGth  and  17th  centuries,  relating 
to  the  discovery  and  settlement  of  Louisiana;  and  then  read  the 
treaty  of  cession  of  that  interestin;^  country  to  the  United  States. 
This  country  doubly  belonged  to  the  Union,  first  by  being  inclu- 
ded in  the  charter  of  Carolina,  and  secondly  by  cession  from  the 
French  Government. 

The  treaty  of  cession,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  admit- 
ted this  country  into  the  Union  in  1803,  as  far  as  the  Rio  Bravo  ;  of 
course  it  beciiine  an  ititoj;rrul  part  of  the  Union  at  that  date. 

1  have  now  lioiio  throuijh  the  boundary  question,  from  the  first 
discovery  of  the  country  unlil  the  year  1840 — by  which  you  will 
perceive  that  the  rise  and  progress  of  ihis  great  republic  has  been 
formod  by  repeatedly  altering  the  be.  ndaries  of  jurisdiction  ;  by 
admitting  new  states  into  the  Union,  aid  not  by  conquest.  You 
will  also  perceive,  that  the  King  of  (rreat  Britain,  James  I.  grant- 
ed all  that  part  of  America  lying  between  the  30ih  ond  48th  de- 
gree of  North  latitude,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
to  such  of  his  subjects  and  others  as  chose  to  settle  there.  You 
have  also  seen  that  later  kings  of  the  same  kingdom  have  usurped 
and  now  hold  a  part  '.>r  this  territory — that  they  attempted  to 
usurp  the  whole  at  the  :mie  of  the  American  Revolution.  You 
have  to  teach  this  to  your  children,  that  America  will  never  be  at 
peace  until  the  British  Government  retires  from  exercising  juris- 
diction on  this  Continent.  Teach  them  to  hold  out  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship  to  all  British  subjects  to  "come  over  and  help  us," 
allowing  them  a  share  in  the  government  when  they  come  here; 
but  persist  in  refusing  them  any  right  to  govern  Americans  while 
they  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  water. 

Endeavor  to  form  a  more  perfect  union  among  yourselves;  in- 
crease your  Union  by  admitting  more  states  and  territori  s  into  the 
confederation;  encourage  frequent  congresses  of  all  the  states  of 
North  and  South  America,  that  all  difierences  among  the  states  may 
be  there  settled.  Let  an  American  protection  from  any  one  of  the 
States  be  a  sufficient  passport  for  any  citizen  to  travel  from  the  ex- 
treme north  of  Canada  to  the  extreme  south  of  America. 

Admit  Canada  and  Texas  into  the  Union,  without  any  regard  to 
the  British ;  for  if  you  do  not  drive  them  out,  they  will  drive  you 


'^  -■ 


American  Boundary  ilueaiion.  It 

out  and  overturn  the  liberties  of  America,  and  subvert  the  pi  Mi- 
pies  of  the  Revolution  of  1776—  which  is  what  the  King^  of  Ha* 
rope  would  willingly  subvert;  and  possibly  it  may  take  plucu  be- 
fore  your  children  nre  old  enouj^h  to  teach. 

The  further  you  extend  your  boundaries,  the  greater  chance  of 
peace  in  all  your  borders.  A  few  years  ago  the  inhahilanls  bor- 
dering on  the  Mississippi,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Walnut  hills, 
were  arrayed  under  different  governments  in  hostile  attitude ;  now 
they  are  fellow  citizens.  So  let  it  be  with  Canadians  and  Texi- 
ans  and  Nova  Scotians ;— l(;t  them  fight  under  the  same  banner 
of  Virginians,  Mussachusians  and  Curolininns,  and  tot  the  same 
cause— the  liberty  of  governing  themselves. 

I  have  before  advised  you  to  beware  of  the  British  Government. 
So  long  as  they  claim  any  boundaries  on  this  continent,  they  will 
be  your  enemies;  they  will  harass  you  in  all  your  borders;  they 
will  continually  stir  up  the  Indians  to  make  war  upon  your  de- 
fenceless women  and  children  ;  and  they  will  do  all  in  their  power 
to  incite  the  Negroes  to  insurrection. 

The  present  generation,  and  in  this  present  year,  we  ore  cele- 
brating the  victory  gained  by  steam  power  over  the  Atlantic  waves; 
and  with  great  joy  we  are  rejoicing  tliat  the  British  steamers  can 
reach  our  shores  in  one  short  fortnight.  Our  ancestors  rejoiced 
with  exceeding  joy,  that  the  vast  Atlantic  rolled  between  liberty 
and  opression.  1  fear,  my  children,  that  you  will  mourn  the  day 
when  these  British  steamt^rs  will  lay  your  villages  in  ashes,  and 
moke  slaves  of  your  seamen.  Before  you  can  have  any  informa- 
tion, they  can  ascend  your  numerous  rivers  and  creeks,  and  do  you 
infinite  damage,  as  did  their  ancestors  the  ancient  Anglese  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Britain. 

It  were  to  be  wished  that  this  nation  would  see  their  true  gK">ry 
and  greatness  in  ceding  this  territory  to  the  American  Govern- 
ment— copying  after  the  great  example  set  them  by  the  neighbor- 
ing kingdom  of  France.  Human  nature  rejoices  at  the  thought 
that  such  an  arrangement  might  be,  and  thus  save  the  effusion  of 
blood  and  the  distress  of  thousands  ;  but  kin^s  and  aristocratic 
governments  care  but  little  for  the  suffering  of  the  common  people. 
The  rulers  do  nnt  place  themselves  in  front  of  the  battle ;  neither 
do  they  give  up  faring  sumptuously  every  day. 


f, 


r. 


\1A 


A,* 


American  Boundary  Quetiion. 


M 


■   I 


'l^i' 


'.W 


■.^ 


Mr 


■■f  I 


■  I  wish  a  treaty  miKltt  be  mode  witli  England,  whereby  our  ter 
ritories  in  Africa  noight  be  ceded  to  that  nation  in  exchnnge  for 
the  Canadas.  We  wish  to  hold  no  foreign  territories ;  but  we 
wish  to  govern  ourselves  nt  home,  without  foreign  interference. — 
We  might  cede  all  our  right,  title  and  interest  to  one  holf  or  the 
whole  of  Africa  to  Great  BrUain,  and  the  title  would  be  os  valid  at 
is  the  present  title  of  Britain  to  any  part  of  America  ;  and  yet  many 
would  look  with  astonishment  at  such  a  cession,  who  advocote  and 
strenuously  maintain  the  title  of  Britain  to  a  purt  of  this  country, 
which  is  no  better.  ..^>ti 

In  reading  the  history  of  Great  Britain,  you  will  lenrn  that  long 
and  bloody  wars  occurred  between  tho  English  and  Scotch,  which 
did  not  cease  until  the  two  governments  were  united  under  one 
head.  This  union  was  brought  about  by  the  intermarriage  of  the 
kings  of  the  two  countries,  until  at  lust  the  two  kingdoms  fell  by 
inheritance  to  one  king,  and  now  the  people  of  both  nations  are 
one  people  nnd  they  cnn  cross  the  borders  without  interruption  or 
fear  of  deadly  strife.  As  our  government  is  democratic,  no  such 
marrying  alliance  can  take  place ;  and  to  settle  all  border  strife  a 
treaty  of  cession  must  be  made,  or  a  complionce  with  the  articles  of 
the  old  confederation.  SnlTer  other  states  to  be  admitted  into 
this  union  upon  the  application  of  their  citizens,  until  the  flag  of 
liberty  shall  wave  its  broad  banner  for  the  protection  of  freemen, 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  from  the  North  to  the  South  ; 
until  all  the  states  of  North  America  are  united  under  one  federal 
head,  and  democratic  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man  maintained 
and  established  by  the  virtue  and  intelligence  of  the  common  peo- 
ple. Then  will  the  poor  sailor  boy  have  discovered  this  continent 
to  some  purpose — a  resting  place  for  the  poor  and  oppressed  in- 
habitants of  Europe  from  the  tyranny  of  kings — republican  gov- 
ernments established  from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  othev, 
and  the  American  Boundary  Question  settled.  ,     v,.,»~;..;.:.xj{  • 


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xciinnge  for 
ies;  but  we 
terference. — 
e  half  or  the 
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ind  yet  many 
Advocate  and 
this  country, 

nrn  that  long 
cotch,  which 
id  under  one 
irriuge  of  the 
^donis  fell  by 
ii  nations  are 
iterruption  or 
atic,  no  such 
order  strife  a 
the  articles  of 
admitted  into 
itil  the  flag  of 
►n  of  freemen, 
to  the  South ; 
er  one  federal 
in  maintained 

common  peo- 
this  continent 

oppressed  in- 
tpnblicun  gov- 
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